Overview
- Santander confirmed 44 branch closures with dates from April and May 2026 and some into 2027, placing about 291 roles at risk subject to union consultation and potential redeployment.
- Lloyds Banking Group has February shutdowns scheduled, including 11 Lloyds and five Halifax branches, with additional Bank of Scotland sites also closing this month.
- NatWest announced 32 further closures across 2026, taking its total planned shutdowns to 39 over the next two years.
- Research by Which? counts roughly 6,660 UK branch closures since 2015, and separate reporting shows 73 closures already have fixed dates in 2026 across multiple lenders.
- Banks cite steep declines in branch use and heavy digital uptake—Santander says 96% of transactions are now digital—and will offer Santander Locals, community bankers, Banking Hubs and Post Office services, as groups caution these may not fully replace branches for vulnerable customers.