Nationwide has confirmed the future of its 696 bank branch network in the UK, restating its pledge to keep all of its branches open on UK high streets until at least 2030. This commitment covers 605 Nationwide branches and 91 Virgin Money branches, meaning no bank closures should be on the cards for customers for the next four years.
Commitment Amid Rival Closures
The pledge has been made despite a swathe of rival bank closures, including Lloyds, Halifax, Bank of Scotland, NatWest and Santander, with more than 200 branches closing across the UK this year. Nationwide said many vulnerable and older customers still rely on face-to-face support from a branch, making its locations a “valued part of the UK’s high streets”.
But many younger people also use branches, with more than one in 10 of its new student accounts being opened in-branch in the new academic year, according to the building society. As of June 4, Nationwide has more branches than any other banking provider on the UK high street, amounting to 696 in total.
Virgin Money Acquisition
It comes after the building society acquired Virgin Money in 2024, gaining an additional 91 branches on top of its existing 605 Nationwide locations. The commitment to keeping branches open until at least 2030 also applies to Virgin Money branches, even if these are located close to a Nationwide branch.
Commenting on its branch commitment earlier this year, Mandy Beech, Nationwide’s Director of Retail Services, said: “As banks continue to close their doors and step back from the high street, Nationwide will become the UK’s largest group branch network.
“This is a major milestone for us and reflects our belief in the value of in-person banking and the reassurance it offers our members and the communities we support.
“Our data shows branches are very much valued by our customers, with usage rising, and as part of our investment in giving customers real choice in how they bank – whether online, in branch or on the phone - we’re proud to stand by our commitment to keep every one of our branches open until 2030.”
Branch Usage and Community Services
The building society said it has seen a particular increase in account openings in locations where it is the “last branch in town” and since January 2025, another 33 Nationwide branches have become the last in town when other banks have closed their branches. Nationwide said a third (33%) of its current accounts and about a fifth (22%) of savings accounts were opened in branch in the six months to the end of September 2025, with volumes up compared with a year earlier.
The society also uses branches to host dementia clinics via Dementia UK’s specialist admiral nurses, to hold digital lessons to boost people’s tech confidence and to provide “safe spaces” to support victim-survivors of domestic abuse. Nationwide’s commitment to keeping its 696 branches open comes as Lloyds Banking Group has announced 79 new branch closures this year, 74 of which are due to close in 2026 and five in 2027.
