86 UK bank branches to close in June

A significant wave of bank branch closures is underway across the United Kingdom, with 86 locations from four major banks set to shut their doors throughout June. The closures, affecting branches of NatWest, Lloyds Bank, Halifax, and Bank of Scotland, began on June 1 and will continue through the month, impacting communities from London to Scotland.

Lloyds Banking Group accounts for the majority of the scheduled June closures, with 37 Lloyds Bank branches, 25 Halifax branches, and 10 Bank of Scotland branches slated to close. NatWest will close 14 branches. This latest round continues a long-term trend of banks reducing their physical high street presence, a shift attributed by the institutions to rising operational costs and a sustained move by customers toward digital and online banking services.

Separately, Santander has already closed 40 branches scheduled for 2026 and has confirmed four further closures will occur by the end of January 2027, though specific dates for those have not been finalized. The broader closure trend has drawn scrutiny from lawmakers and consumer advocates concerned about reduced access to face-to-face financial services, particularly for elderly,...