More than 13million Brits still rely on bank branches despite a whopping 6,000 of them closing over last decade
MILLIONS of bank customers face being left stranded after a damning report revealed 6,000 branch closures over the past decade.
A whopping 13million customers used bank branches last year, according to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
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The data shows that most users remain "reliant on bank branches for essential services," despite the move toward online banking.
The FCA report revealed that an eye-watering 9.7million people visited a specific site at least once a month.
Experts fear that the trend of branch closures will leave customers stranded with around 3.3million account holders never banked online.
Around 63 per cent of those are over the age of 85, which raises further concern, according to the FCA.
The report also found that people from low-income households - as well as those with cancer, multiple sclerosis, or HIV — were less likely to engage with digital banking.
Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, said: "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 maintain their independence."
The main reasons people avoided online banking were concerns about security and a preference for speaking to someone face-to-face.
A staggering 21 per cent of account holders surveyed said their regular bank branch had closed.
Consumer group, Which?, showed that more than 6,000 branches have shut in the past decade.
Jenny Ross, money editor at Which? said: "As the UK's bank branch network continues to be cut to the bone, more people are finding it difficult to access banking services."
Major high street bank axing key service
Former pensions minister Ros Altmann added: 'Millions of British citizens cannot and do not use online or mobile banking, and indeed don't even have a smartphone.
Despite the rising bank closures, Nationwide has committed to keeping all of its branches open until 2028.
The major bank has seen the number of customers rise by 4 per cent, which appears to be partly driven by other bank closures.
Which bank branches are closing in June?
Halifax:
Bitterne: 400/402 Bitterne Road SO18 5RS – June 9
Bournemouth: 335/337 Wimborne Road BH9 2EA – June 4
Felixstowe: 85 Hamilton Road IP11 7BQ – June 2
Fleetwood: 4 Poulton Street FY7 6LR – June 22
Gainsborough: 32 Lord Street DN21 2DQ – June 2
Launceston: 1 Southgate Street PL15 9DP – June 3
Leek: 16 Derby Street ST13 5AB – June 4
Letchworth: 1 Commerce Way SG6 3DN – June 3
Littlehampton: 68 High Street BN17 5EA – June 23
London (North West): 469 Kingsbury Road NW9 9ES – June 2
Bank of Scotland:
Bathgate: 50 Hopetoun Street EH48 4EU – June 30
Cowdenbeath: 349/351 High Street KY4 9QJ – June 24
Linlithgow: Regent Centre Blackness Road EH49 7HU – June 23
Lloyds:
Alcester: Stratford Road B49 5AX – June 25
Ashbourne: Compton DE6 1DY – June 24
Dorchester: 1-2 High West Street DT1 1UG – June 19
Launceston: 13 Broad Street PL15 8AG – June 3
Liverpool: 188-190 Breck Road L5 6PX – June 4
Over the rest of the year, another 40 branches are closing.
These include locations in Bristol, London, Bolton, Edinburgh and Coventry.
Here is the full list...
Halifax:
Barrow-in-Furness: 133-135 Dalton Road LA14 1HZ – September 10
Bexleyheath: 131 Broadway DA6 7HF – October 23
Blackpool: 283/287 Lytham Road FY4 1DP – October 29
Bolton: 23/27 Knowsley Street BL1 2DG – November 20
Brentwood: 12 High Street CM14 4AE – September 10
Bristol: 15 Kings Chase Shopping Centre BS15 8LP – October 8
Carmarthen: 121/122 Lammas Street SA31 3AE – October 6
Castleford: 68 Carlton Street WF10 1DB – September 8
Cirencester: 10/12 Cricklade Street GL7 1JH – September 25
Crewe: The Market Centre CW1 2HU – October 14
Derby: 39 East Street DE1 2BL – October 23
Epsom: 51-52 The Ashley Centre KT18 5DB – September 15
Erdington: 221 High Street B23 6SS – September 24
Folkestone: 70-72 Sandgate Road CT20 2AA – October 9
Hayes: 45/47 Station Road UB3 4HH – October 6
Hexham: 20 Priestpopple NE46 1XH – November 5
Hove: 86/87 George Street BN3 3YE – October 20
London (South East): 165/169 Eltham High Street SE9 1TT – October 29
London (South East): 9-13 Powis Street SE18 6HZ – October 1
London (South West): 6 St Johns Hill SW11 1RU – September 23
Bank of Scotland:
Edinburgh: 206 St John's Road EH12 8SH – October 29
Lloyds:
Biggleswade: 35 High Street SG18 0JD – November 5
Blandford: 6 Market Place DT11 7EE – November 10
Bristol: 16 Highridge Road BS13 8HA – November 6
Bury: 45 The Rock BL9 0JP – October 21
Chard: 27 Fore Street TA20 1PS – November 11
Coventry: 531 Foleshill Road CV6 5JN – November 4
Dunstable: 12 High Street North LU6 1JY – November 4
East Grinstead: 1/3 London Road RH19 1AH – November 12
Fakenham: 27 Norwich Street NR21 9AH – July 1
Falmouth: 11-12 Killigrew Street TR11 3RA – November 13
Feltham: 40 The Centre TW13 4AX – November 4
Ferndown: 84 Victoria Road BH22 9JB – November 17
Hexham: Priestpopple NE46 1PA – November 5
Kidderminster: 1 Vicar Street DY10 1DE – October 16
Leeds: 1 Cross Gates Centre LS15 8ET – August 20
Leeds: 52 Town Street LS12 3AE – September 8
Leominster: 9 Corn Square HR6 8LT – November 18
London (East): 180 - 182 High Street E17 7JH – October 22
London (South West): 12 Mitcham Road SW17 9ND – October 8
Loughton: 11 The Broadway IG10 3SW – November 12
Manchester: 64 Old Church Street M40 2JF – November 5
Since June 2022, Lloyds Banking Group has shut 537 bank branches across its three brands.
It has previously said all workers at the affected branches will be offered jobs elsewhere in the company.
UK banks and building societies have closed about 6,293 branches since January 2015, according to research by Which?.
This works out as almost two branches shutting every day for the past decade.
Barclays is the individual bank that has reduced its network the most, with 1,227 branch closures.
What to do if your local bank is set to close
If your nearest branch is closing, you should still be able to access banking services without going to another town.
For example you could check if there is a Post Office near you.
Here you'll be able to do basic banking tasks, although you won't be able to open a new bank account or take out personal loans or mortgages.
You can find your nearest Post Office branch by visiting postoffice.co.uk/branch-finder.
Many banks also offer a mobile banking service where they bring a bus to your area that offers services you can usually get at a physical branch.
Other banks use buildings such as village halls or libraries to offer mobile banking services.
You may want to contact your bank to see what mobile services they have available.
Another option is to check if there's a super ATM near you.
These have been rolled out across the UK where branch closures have left residents unable to access essential banking services.
These ATMs will allow customers to withdraw funds, access their balance, change PIN numbers and deposit cash.
Banking hubs are also being opened across the country with 250 set to be available by the end of 2025.
What services do banking hubs offer?
BANKING hubs offer a range of services to bridge the gap left by the closure of local branches.
Operated by the Post Office, these hubs allow customers to perform routine transactions such as deposits, withdrawals, and balance enquiries.
Each hub features private booths where customers can discuss more complex banking matters with staff from their respective banks.
Staff from different banks are available on a rotational basis, ensuring that customers have access to a wide range of banking services throughout the week.
Additionally, customers can receive advice and support on various financial products and services, including loans, mortgages, and savings accounts.
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