536 UK Bank Branches Close in 2025

In 2025, a total of 536 bank branches closed across the United Kingdom, marking a significant continuation of the shift from in-person to digital banking services. The closures, tracked by the payments network LINK, affected communities nationwide, with the highest numbers concentrated among branches operated by the Lloyds Banking Group.

The year saw an initial surge of 91 closures in January, followed by an average of 45 per month through November, while December recorded none. Customers of Lloyds and Halifax, both under the Lloyds Banking Group, faced the most disruptions, with 147 Halifax branches and 144 Lloyds branches shuttering. The group also closed 38 Bank of Scotland locations, some of which had been planned prior to its latest announcement. Other major banks contributed substantially: NatWest shut 97 branches, Santander closed 77, and Barclays eliminated 15.

Lloyds Banking Group cited the growing preference for mobile and online banking as the primary reason for the reductions. Earlier this year, the group outlined plans to close an additional 61 Lloyds, 61 Halifax, and 14 Bank of Scotland branches between May 2025 and March 2026. This trend reflects broader changes...