NatWest has announced plans to close 20 bank branches across the UK in 2025, contributing to the ongoing decline of high street banking. The closures are part of a broader trend that has seen over 6,500 bank branches shut since January 2015, according to consumer watchdog Which?.
The bank stated that more than 80% of its current account holders now use digital services, and over 97% of retail accounts are opened online. This shift towards online banking has accelerated branch closures, with 53 NatWest branches already closed or scheduled for closure in 2025.
Consumer groups have raised concerns about the impact on vulnerable customers, including the elderly, disabled, and small business owners, who rely on local branches. The issue is particularly acute in rural areas with poor broadband or mobile signal, making internet banking difficult.
Other major banks are also reducing their physical presence. Lloyds, Halifax, and Bank of Scotland are cutting opening hours at many branches, while Santander has closed dozens of branches this year. However, HSBC has pledged no closures until at least 2026, and Nationwide has promised to keep all branches open until 2028.
Sam Richardson, deputy editor at Which?, commented: 'The milestone of more than 6,000 bank closures in just nine years underscores the seismic shift that has taken place in terms of our banking habits and the character of the British high street.'
