Worst 11 UK towns for bank closures each losing two branches in 2026 | Personal Finance | Finance

The worst UK towns for bank closures in 2026 have been revealed, with hotspots across the north and south of England as well as Wales saying goodbye to more than one branch at a time.

Several major high street banks have announced branch closures for 2026, starting in January and continuing right through to the end of the year, including Santander, NatWest, Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland.

More than 160 banks are set to close their doors for good across the country this year just from the aforementioned brands alone. NatWest pointed to ‘more demand for mobile and online services’ while Santander pointed to a shift toward digital banking too.

But these unlucky towns and London areas are the 11 worst bank closure hotspots in the UK, all losing more than one bank.

Alastair Douglas, CEO of TotallyMoney told the Express: “2026 has seen several banks announce they’ll be closing high-street branches – Santander will be closing 44, NatWest 32, and Lloyds, Halifax and the Bank of Scotland will be shutting at least 168 over the next two years. 

“Banks have a duty of care to support their customers, and even though digital services are becoming increasingly popular, the real concern is for the elderly and vulnerable, many of whom rely on both cash and real-life support.  

“If you’re worried about your branch closing, then visit your bank’s website – they’ll have details about the closest available branch, or local banking hubs. Now might also be a good time to think about switching to a different provider. 

Lloyds will have 610 branches remaining once all the previously announced closures are complete.

A spokeswoman for Lloyds said: “Customers want the freedom to bank in the way that works for them and we offer more choice and ways to manage money than ever before.

“From our leading apps and 24/7 messaging service to local banking options like our community bankers, PayPoint and access to all of our Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland branches, we’re giving our customers the flexibility to bank wherever and whenever they need us.”

A spokeswoman for Santander said: “In response to a continuing and sizeable shift towards customers using digital banking, we are making changes to our branches to better support our customers.

“We will continue to invest in both our branch network – comprising of full-service branches, counter-free branches, reduced-hour branches, Santander Locals, and our increasingly popular work cafes – as well as our digital banking services, so we can be there to support our customers however they choose to bank with us.”

NatWest said: “We’ve recently announced that we’re closing some branches. You can still bank with us in many other ways.

“Banking has changed dramatically in recent years. There’s more demand for mobile and online services, allowing you to benefit from a faster and easier way to bank.

“We understand the closure of your local branch will bring some changes, and we want to make sure you are fully informed and supported every step of the way.

“…We’ve also shared closure guides for branches we announced last year where we’re currently waiting for new local cash recommendations to be set up or renovation works to complete, before final closure dates can be confirmed.”