UK banks to close dozens of branches as digital shift accelerates

Dozens of high street bank branches across the UK are set to close in the coming weeks and months as major lenders scale back in-person services, with another round of cuts announced this week and a large batch of closures scheduled for 2026. Customers of NatWest, Halifax and Lloyds are among those affected, with a separate Lloyds Banking Group plan to shut 49 branches across its Lloyds Bank, Halifax and Bank of Scotland brands next year.

This week NatWest said branches would close in Abingdon, Birmingham (Shirley), Newmarket, Willerby and Yate, with further NatWest sites including Melton Mowbray and Sudbury due to shut later in the month. Halifax is closing locations in London Clapham Junction, Rhyl, Erdington, Cirencester and Walkden this week, and Lloyds is set to shut its Leeds Armley branch. Separately, Lloyds Banking Group confirmed it will close 26 Lloyds Bank, 10 Halifax and 13 Bank of Scotland branches between January and October 2026, leaving the group with 705 branches nationwide.

Banks and consumer groups said the moves reflect a long-term shift towards digital banking that has weakened the economic case for many physical branches. Lloyds Banking Group pointed to...