Natwest, a high street bank giant with 960 locations, is set to close two more branches across the UK, bringing the total number of closures this year to 126. The closures come as customers increasingly turn to online banking, leaving traditional bank branches struggling to stay afloat.
Branch Closures Continue
Last week, Natwest closed branches in Southampton and Sidcup, south-east London, and now the bank is set to shut branches in Beckton and Weybridge. The closures are part of a trend that has seen bank branches shutting regularly for several years.
Full List of Closures
Here is the full list of the latest Natwest branches to close:
– 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
In addition to Natwest, other major banks such as Barclays, Halifax, Bank of Scotland, Lloyds, and Virgin Money are also closing branches in October. The banks have cited the increasing popularity of online banking as the reason for the closures.
What to Do if Your Local Branch Closes
If your local bank branch is closing, leaving you without a physical branch nearby, there are options available. One option is to use one of the 11,635 branches of the Post Office, which can carry out most banking tasks. However, opening new accounts or taking out personal loans and mortgages cannot be done at the Post Office.
Many banks also offer mobile banking services, where a bus will come to your local area and provide all the normal services available at a branch. Contact your bank or building society to see if they offer a banking bus and when it will be near you. Some banks also use buildings such as village halls or libraries to offer mobile banking services. Additionally, banking hubs that offer traditional shared services have been set up in various locations across the UK.
