Natwest and RBS have announced almost 50 branches are to close in another serious blow to the high street. Campaigners are horrified at the continued loss of the facilities with 1,325 closed in the last two years and say it will impact especially on the elderly and vulnerable.
NatWest will shut 47 sites and Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) will permanently close another branch. It’s a further blow to customers who prefer in-person banking, after the banking group announced in November that 18 sites would shut.
On its website, NatWest said banking has “changed dramatically in recent years”, citing the “increased demand” for mobile and online services. The bank said average counter transactions reduced by 60 per cent between January 2019 and January 2023.
READ MORE: Two M&S stores to close in London as 67 set to shut across the country
In the same period, it found the number of customers using mobile apps increased by 49 per cent.
Natwest branches closing
- Andover – 9 Bridge Street, SP10 1BD. (28 August 2024)
- Barking – 32 East Street, IG11 8EU. (11 July 2024)
- Barkingside – 133 High Street, IG6 2AJ. (25 July 2024)
- Beaconsfield – 1 Penn Road, HP9 2PU. (30 July 2024)
- Beckenham – 41 High Street, BR3 1DA. (3 September 2024)
- Bracknell – 5 High Street, RG12 1DH. (4 September 2024)
- Chadwell Heath – 27 High Road, RM6 6QD. (1 August 2024)
- Cosham – 69 – 73 High Street, PO6 3DA. (18 July 2024)
- Dover – 25 Market Square, CT16 1NG. (16 July 2024)
- East Grinstead – 15 London Road, RH19 1AJ. (20 August 2024)
- Eltham – 65 Eltham High Street, SE9 1YS. (20 August 2024)
- Farnborough – 31 – 37 Victoria Road, GU14 7NR. (15 October 2024)
- Gravesend – 30 King Street, DA12 2XX. (14 August 2024)
- Hackney – 20 Amhurst Road, E8 1JW. (7 August 2024)
- Havant – 23 West Street, PO9 1EU. (12 September 2024)
- Larkfield – 718 London Road, ME20 6AN. (10 July 2024)
- London – 250 Bishopsgate, EC2M 4AA. (5 September 2024)
- London – 69 Baker Street, W1U 6AT. (15 August 2024)
- London – 159 Rushey Green, SE6 4BJ. (21 August 2024)
- London – 332 High Holborn, WC1V 7PA. (23 July 2024)
- London – 88 Station Road, E4 7BB. (TBC)
- London – 120-122 Fenchurch Street, EC3M 5BA. (27 August 2024)
- London – 5 Central Circus, NW4 3LA. (29 August 2024)
- London – 490 Holloway Road, N7 6JB. (8 August 2024)
- London – 567 Kingsbury Road, NW9 9EP. (10 July 2024)
- London – 46 Notting Hill Gate, W11 3HZ. (16 October 2024)
- London – 26 Spring Street, W2 1JA. (7 August 2024)
- London – 1 Abbey Road, NW10 7YQ. (24 July 2024)
- London – 18 Cromwell Place, SW7 2LB. (17 October 2024)
- London – 54 Streatham High Road, SW16 1BZ. (6 August 2024)
- London – 106 Finchley Road, NW3 5JN. (31 July 2024)
- Muswell Hill – 190 The Broadway, N10 3SD. (6 August 2024)
- Norbury – 1393 London Road, SW16 4AL. (23 July 2024)
- Paddock Wood – Station Road, TN12 6EP. (11 July 2024)
- Petersfield – 4 High Street, GU32 3JF. (11 September 2024)
- Rainham – 70 – 74 High Street, ME8 7JH. (24 July 2024)
- Ramsgate – 53 High Street, CT11 9AG. (8 August 2024)
- Rustington – 154 The Street, BN16 3DA. (25 July 2024)
- Slough – 118 High Street, SL1 1JH. (12 September 2024)
- Southall – Unit NCG1, Western International Market, UB2 5XA. (5 September 2024)
- Staines – 67 High Street, TW18 4PU. (3 September 2024)
- Upper Edmonton – 104 – 110 Fore Street, N18 2XA. (4 September 2024)
- Wallington – 27 Woodcote Road, SM6 0LH. (10 September 2024)
- West Wickham – 33 High Street, BR4 0LR. (22 August 2024)
- White City – Unit 2050, Westfield Shopping Centre, W12 7GE. (13 August 2024)
- Woking – 1 High Street, GU21 6BG. (21 August 2024)
- Worcester Park – 93 Central Road, KT4 8DZ. (22 August 2024)
The charity Age UK has called for branch closures to be put on hold until more banking hubs have opened in areas with no alternative services.
Caroline Abrahams, charity director for Age UK, previously said: “The continuing avalanche of bank branch closures means that by the end of this year there will be considerably fewer opportunities for face-to-face banking than there were even just a couple of years ago. Older people living in rural and semi-rural areas are likely to be the hardest hit, but those in towns and cities are not immune. Our research found that more than 4 million older people with a bank account in Britain are not managing their money online and so are at high risk of digital exclusion.
You can see which banks are closing or have closed in your area using our interactive map.
“Age UK is calling for the protection of physical banking services for those who do not, or cannot bank online, and for the accelerated roll-out of shared banking hubs in areas where bank branches are fast withering away. We applaud the banks for coming together to set up shared Hubs, but it’s important that alternative services are set up speedily, especially in those areas with the greatest need.”
“The disappearance of face-to-face banking risks cutting a significant minority of the older population out of an essential service, making it difficult if not impossible for them to manage their money and maintain their independence.”
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