More than 100 bank branches are scheduled to shut down in 2026 as the trend of moving away from traditional high street locations accelerates.
This year, closure dates have been confirmed for 73 branches of major banks such as Lloyds, NatWest, Santander, Halifax, and Bank of Scotland. Additionally, another 29 branches have announced closure plans without finalizing the dates, bringing the total closures to 102. Lloyds leads with 40 branches nearing closure.
Among the upcoming closures are 18 Santander branches, 17 Bank of Scotland branches, 15 Halifax branches, and seven NatWest branches. Last year, both Lloyds and Santander revealed closure plans attributing the decision to the increasing preference for mobile banking over in-person visits.
By the end of this month, 35 branches will have disappeared from high streets, with two more closures in February and 23 more in March. The remaining closures are expected in July and October or are yet to be determined.
Notably, Cornwall has been disproportionately affected by bank closures, with four branches set to close this year and two more awaiting closure dates. Over the past few years, there has been a total loss of 45 banks due to closures, with Scotland’s Highland council area facing the closure of six banks this year.
In total, Scotland is projected to lose 20 banks, while Wales and Northern Ireland will lose five and one bank, respectively. Among the 76 remaining closures in England, the South East and South West regions will see the most significant impact, each losing 17 bank branches.
Since February 2022, major banking groups have been committed to evaluating the impact of closures, resulting in the closure or planned closure of 2,065 branches. The LINK initiative was established to oversee each closure and ensure that essential services are maintained for vulnerable customers and small businesses transitioning to digital banking.
In response to branch closures leaving communities without local banking options, banking hubs and free ATMs are being established to address the gap. Both LINK and Cash Access UK emphasize the importance of maintaining cash services for those who continue to rely on traditional banking methods, highlighting the ongoing shift towards digital banking while ensuring access to essential services for all customers.
