High street bank giant with 960 locations to close more branches in HOURS in high street blow – is your local going?
A HIGH street bank giant with 960 locations is set to close more branches in hours in a major high street blow.
Natwest is pulling the plug on two more locations across the UK, bringing the total number of branches closed this year to 126.
Last week saw the closure of branches in Southampton and Sidcup, south east London.
Now, branches in Beckton and Weybridge will shut tomorrow as the axe is wielded twice more.
Bank branches have been closing regularly for several years as customers move more towards online banking.
Natwest branches in Woodley, Berkshire and Southgate, north London were also confirmed to shut their doors recently.
Here’s the full list of the latest banks to close:
A further two Natwest branches will be shutting in July next year – one in Stalybridge and the other in West Kirby.
- Natwest, Gosport, October 3
- Natwest, Cleethorpes, October 3
- Natwest, Southampton, October 4
- Natwest, Sidcup, October 4
- Natwest, Southgate, October 5
- Natwest, Woodley, October 5
- Natwest, Stanmore, October 10
- Natwest, Tiverton, October 10
- Natwest, Parkhouse Industrial Estate, October 11
- Natwest, London, October 11
- Natwest, Beckton, October 12
- Natwest, Weybridge, October 12
- Natwest, Wickersley, October 17
- Natwest, Prestwich, October 18
- Natwest, Tavistock, October 18
- Natwest, Alton, October 19
- Natwest, Exmouth, October 19
- Natwest, Norwich, October 31
- Natwest, Wanstead, October 31
- Natwest, Leicester, November 2
- Natwest, Camborne, November 7
- Natwest, Plymouth, November 7
- Natwest, Colchester, November 7
- Natwest, Ipswich, November 8
- Natwest, Shotton, November 9
- Natwest, London, November 9
- RBS, Dingwall, November 1
- RBS, Dundee, November 2
Along with Natwest, Barclays, Halifax, Bank of Scotland, Lloyds and Virgin Money are all pulling down the shutters on locations in October.
All of the banks have cited an increase in the number of people banking online as a reason for the closures.
What to do if your local bank branch closes
Consumers increasingly use online banking to carry out the majority of their day-to-day activities, hence why so many bank branches are closing.
But it can leave those without access to the internet, especially the elderly, without a physical branch nearby.
If you are worried about your local branch closing leaving you in the lurch, you’ve got some options.
You can use one of the Post Office’s 11,635 branches to carry out most banking tasks.
However, you can’t open new bank accounts or take personal loans and mortgages out there.
Meanwhile, many banks offer a mobile banking service – essentially a bus will come to your local area offering all the normal services you can get at your branch.
It’s worth contacting your bank or building society to see if its runs a banking bus and it will be able to tell when one is next near you.
Other banks use buildings such as village halls or libraries to offer mobile banking services.
Banking hubs, which offer traditional shared services, have also been set up in various locations across the UK.