High street banks including Santander, NatWest, Lloyds and Halifax are set to close a combined 52 branches in May 2026. According to Which? magazine, banks and building societies have closed 6,719 branches since January 2015, which equates to around 53 closures each month.
The closures are attributed to the increasing shift towards online banking. However, charities have warned that vulnerable people may be left without access to cash.
Santander Branch Closures
Santander is closing 27 branches in May, including locations in Andover, Banbridge, Birmingham (Shirley), Bishop Auckland, Bridgend, Cwmbran, Enniskillen, Golders Green, Gosport (High Street), Haverfordwest, Heswall (Telegraph Road), Huntingdon, Leyland, Liskeard, Macclesfield, Mansfield, Merthyr Tydfil, Newton Abbot, Newtownabbey (Glengormley), Northallerton, Pontefract, Redditch, Ringwood, Stafford, Stranraer, Stratford-upon-Avon, and Welwyn Garden City.
A spokeswoman for Santander said: “In response to a continuing and sizeable shift towards customers using digital banking, we are making changes to our branches to better support our customers. We will continue to invest in both our branch network – comprising of full-service branches, counter-free branches, reduced-hour branches, Santander Locals, and our increasingly popular work cafes – as well as our digital banking services, so we can be there to support our customers however they choose to bank with us.”
NatWest Branch Closures
NatWest is closing 15 branches in May, including Portishead, Ashford (Middlesex), Barnet, Brentwood, Eastcote, Harlow, Hartlepool, Hornchurch, Hove, London (Tooting), Loughton (Old Station Road, Sainsburys), Manchester (Cheetham Hill), Manchester (Chorlton), Orpington, and Waltham Cross.
A NatWest spokesperson said: “Our branch network is a central part of how we serve customers, and we continue to invest in this for the future, with an increase in our investment into branches planned over the next three years. We carefully assess where and when we make the difficult decision to close a branch to minimise the impact any change may have on our customers and colleagues.”
Lloyds Bank and Halifax Branch Closures
Lloyds Bank is closing eight branches in May: Falmouth, Wymondham, Bournemouth, London (Fitzrovia), London (Streatham), London (Victoria), London (West End), and Redhill. Halifax is closing two branches: London (Hammersmith) and London (Pentonville, Chapel Market).
A spokeswoman for Lloyds Banking Group said: “Customers want the freedom to bank in the way that works for them and we offer more choice and ways to manage money than ever before. From our leading apps and 24/7 messaging service to local banking options like our community bankers, PayPoint and access to all of our Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland branches, we’re giving our customers the flexibility to bank wherever and whenever they need us.”
