NatWest is set to close four bank branches across England this week as part of its ongoing branch reduction programme, with sites in Essex, London and West Yorkshire among those affected.
The closures, which will take place between June 15 and June 18, come after NatWest Group announced plans earlier this year to shut 30 branches during 2026, alongside a further nine branch closures scheduled for later in the year.
The latest closures form part of a wider trend that has seen thousands of bank branches disappear from UK high streets over the past decade.
Branches Closing This Week
- Grays — 17 High Street (Closing Monday, June 15)
- London (Spitalfields) — 216 Bishopsgate (Closing Wednesday, June 17)
- Halifax — 1 Waterhouse Street (Closing Thursday, June 18)
- London (Fulham Broadway) — 45 Fulham Broadway (Closing Thursday, June 18)
According to consumer group Which?, NatWest Group has closed 1,553 branches since January 2015, more than any other banking group. Analysis also shows the group has reduced its branch network by around 73 per cent during that period.
Despite the latest round of closures, NatWest Group has sought to reassure customers by confirming that no further branch closure announcements will be made until at least 2029.
The banking giant said the recent closures represent the end of its current programme of network changes and the beginning of a new phase focused on investing in face-to-face banking services.
NatWest Group has pledged to invest £50 million in its remaining branch network over the next 18 months. The funding will be used to modernise existing sites, refurbish branches and relocate some locations where needed.
Once the latest closures and those planned later this year have been completed, NatWest Group will operate 336 branches across the UK. This will include 249 NatWest branches, 62 Royal Bank of Scotland locations and 25 Ulster Bank sites.
The group said that while around 95 per cent of customers now use some form of digital banking, it recognises that many people still rely on in-person support for managing their finances.
Solange Chamberlain, Chief Executive of Retail Banking at NatWest Group, said the bank remains committed to offering customers a range of ways to access services.
She said: "We are investing to offer customers a seamless mix of ways to bank with us, including over the phone, digitally, or via our free-to-use ATM network — while continuing to support those who prefer face-to-face banking in branches and community banking hubs."
