In a significant blow to traditional high street banking, three of Britain's largest financial institutions have revealed plans to close nearly 50 branches across England and Wales throughout 2025.
Which banks are closing branches?
The sweeping closures affect customers of Lloyds Bank, Halifax, and Barclays, with the latter taking the most drastic action by shutting 27 locations. This latest wave of branch reductions continues a troubling trend that has seen hundreds of banking facilities disappear from local communities in recent years.
The full list of affected locations
Barclays leads the closures with 27 branches scheduled to shut their doors, including locations in:
- Birmingham (Castle Vale)
- Bournemouth (Westbourne)
- Cardiff (Cathays)
- Leeds (Cross Gates)
- London (multiple locations including Edgware Road and North Finchley)
- Manchester (Fallowfield)
- Newcastle upon Tyne (Gosforth)
- Nottingham (Arnold)
- Sheffield (Darnall)
Lloyds Banking Group will close 21 branches between its two brands:
- Lloyds Bank locations in Bristol, Liverpool, London, and Southampton
- Halifax branches in areas including Leeds, Manchester, and Nottingham
Why are banks closing branches?
The institutions cite declining footfall and the rapid shift to digital banking as primary reasons for the closures. With more customers opting for mobile and online banking services, banks argue that maintaining physical branches has become increasingly unsustainable.
A Barclays spokesperson explained: "As visits to branches continue to fall, we need to adapt to provide the best service for all our customers. Where we are closing branches, we aim to maintain an in-person presence through our Barclays Local network, located in libraries, town halls, mobile vans, and our banking pods."
What does this mean for customers?
The closures will significantly impact elderly and vulnerable customers who rely on face-to-face banking services. Many will now face longer journeys to access their nearest branch, with some having to travel to different towns entirely.
Consumer groups have expressed concern about the accelerating pace of branch closures, warning that it risks excluding those who are not digitally confident or who lack reliable internet access.
Alternatives to traditional branches
Banks are promoting alternative services including:
- Mobile banking apps and online platforms
- Post Office banking services for basic transactions
- Community banking hubs where multiple banks share facilities
- Mobile banking vans that visit rural areas
- Telephone banking services for customer support
The scheduled closures represent another chapter in the ongoing transformation of Britain's banking landscape, as financial institutions continue to balance cost efficiency with customer service in an increasingly digital world.
