Latest news with #bankclosures
The Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
All the bank branch closures including Lloyds and NatWest in August – is your local affected?
BANK branches continue to close across the UK at pace, with 17 more planning to shut their doors this August alone. In fact, so far in 2025, 423 branches have closed already from January through July. 1 A further 127 are expected to close between September and December as banks cut costs and push customers toward online services. According to consumer champion Which?, banks and building societies have closed 6,443 branches since January 2015, at a rate of around 53 closures each month. This represents 64% of the branches that were open at the start of 2015. The figures cover branches from 20 major current account providers, showing how widespread the cuts are. NatWest Group, including NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland and Ulster Bank, has closed the most, with 1,477 branches shut since 2015. Lloyds Banking Group, which includes Lloyds Bank, Halifax and Bank of Scotland, shut 1,391 in the same period. Barclays alone has reduced its network by 1,236 branches, the most for any individual bank. Branch closures peaked in 2017, when 867 sites closed across the UK, more than 70 each month, followed closely by 792 closures in 2018. How Link is helping with cash access Thanks to pressure from campaigners, including Link, some banks have agreed to open voluntary banking hubs that offer face-to-face banking services for customers in areas affected by branch closures. These hubs let you: Pay and withdraw cash Check your balance Pay utility bills Top up gas and electricity Link recommends hubs in areas with at least 10,000 people and 70 shops, also considering local demographics, digital skills and transport links. A full list of operating banking hubs is available on the Cash Access UK website. If you think your area is under-served you can request a hub. First, you need ask Link for a 'cash access review' to check if services in your area are good enough. Who can ask? Anyone can make a cash access request, individuals, groups or organisations. You just need to make your request in writing, and help is available if you need it. You can complete the request form online or print it and post it to: LINK Scheme Ltd (Cash Access Request) Central House, Otley Road, Harrogate, HG3 1UF. When might a review not happen? If there's already an ongoing or recent review covering your area and the same cash services If there isn't a good reason to review the cash access services where you live If you are made aware of existing services nearby and decide there's no problem If you cancel your request in writing or by email Before asking for a review, check if there's a bank branch, Post Office or ATM near you. Post Offices offer Everyday Banking services including cash deposits, withdrawals and balance checks for many banks and building societies. Using the Cash Locator tool can help you find the nearest place to get or pay in cash. Link wants to make sure everyone can easily access and manage their money, so don't hesitate to ask for help if you think cash access in your area isn't good enough. Which banks are closing? Here are all the closures planned for August 2025: Bank of Scotland – one closure North Berwick: August 20 Barclays - one closure Hull: August 22 Lloyds Bank – one closure Leeds Crossgates: August 20 Santander – 14 closures Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@
The Sun
09-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Major bank with 28million customers to shut 10 branches this month – full list of locations
A MAJOR UK bank that serves 28 million customers around the country is set to shut ten of its branches this month. Those impacted are encouraged to look into other suitable banking options, such as setting up online or telephone banking. 1 Lloyds banking group has also announced plans to close down 254 of its branches for good this year. Branches that are closing Lloyds bank is set to close 116 of its branches over the next two years. Halifax plans to shut down 107 over the same period. Meanwhile, the Bank of Scotland is expected to shutter 31 branches. Over the month of July, closures of Lloyds groups banks are in: Alcester (July 2) Ashbourne (July 8) Fakenham (July 15) Firth Park Sheffield (July 10) Sherborne (July 7) Spennymoor Cheapside (July 10) Stanley (July 17) Wadebridge (July 1) Warwick (July 15) Woodbridge (July 16) Next month, closure of the Crossgates Leeds branch is expected on August 20. And in September, the Leeds Amrley, Monmouth, Station Lane Hornchurch, and Thetford banks are set to close. Why banks are closing The closures follow reviews of different Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland branches, which are all part of the Lloyds banking group. They have claimed customers are moving away from banking in person to using more mobile services, as the reason behind the shutting of branches. Bank of Scotland to Close 22 Branches: A Digital Transformation The Lloyds Group is not the only banking giant that is planning mass closures of its physical sites. Just last month, NatWest closed down 20 of its branches across the UK. In the last decade, this has added up to a total of 1,431 branch closures from the NatWest Group, which includes NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland and Ulster Bank. Barclays has seen the biggest reduction in its network as an individual bank over this period, with 1,236 branches now closed. It comes, however, as research shows 39 per cent of people aged over 65 do not use online banking. Closures of high street banks is therefore putting them at high risk of financial exclusion. What to do if your branch closes Staff at Lloyds banks are expected to provide support to customers to get them started on the company's Mobile Banking app and Internet Banking. There are also alternative Lloyds Bank Branches, Post Office, cash machines (ATMs) and other ways to pay in or withdraw cash that can be sought. Banking Hubs are planned for areas to help with everyday banker. Lloyds bank also provides a Community Banker to visit areas where branches are closing, who can provide help and support around account enquiries. 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.
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Aussie bank faces backlash for closing 10 branches: ‘Slap in the face'
Bendigo Bank has revealed it will be closing 10 branches in Victoria, Queensland and Tasmania from next month. The move has been described as a 'slap in the face' from the bank, with five regional communities now set to have no bank branches. Bendigo Bank said the 'difficult decision' was down to 'evolving customer preferences, a reduction in business activity and an increase in costs'. Banks have been increasingly moving to shut bank branches as people choose to do the majority of their banking online. The announcement comes after the federal government struck a deal with the Big Four banks to keep their regional banks open until at least mid-2027. About 36 per cent of bank branches in regional Australia have closed since 2017, leaving some communities without access to in-person banking. RELATED ANZ customer 'dumbfounded' by 'cashless' incident at bank branch Commonwealth Bank, Westpac reveal major payment change for millions of customers CBA, NAB, ANZ reveal $200,000 move borrowers making after RBA interest rate cuts Bendigo Bank chief executive officer and managing director Richard Fennell said the decision to close a branch was only ever a last resort. 'To preserve what makes our Bank unique, we must balance our physical network presence with the need to continue investing in the changing preferences of our 2.7 million customers,' he said. Finance Sector Union national secretary Julia Angrisano said the closures were a 'slap in the face' coming from one of the largest regionally based banks in Australia.'This is an incredibly disturbing development and does not bode well for the future of Bendigo Bank's presence in regional Australia,' she said. 'For a bank which proudly has its regional centre hometown as part of its name, and is fondly known for its community branch network, this decision feels very 'big bank' for all the wrong reasons.' Three Victorian communities, Bannockburn, Korumburra and Yarram, along with Malanda in Queensland and Queenstown in Tasmania will lose the last of their local bank branches. The Queenstown closure in western Tasmania means customers would have to drive more than two and a half hours to their nearest bank branch in Burnie. West Coast Mayor Shane Pitt has vowed to fight the closure and criticised the bank for not properly consulting with the community. Angrisano said the union had written to local MPs in affected towns, and the assistant treasurer and minister for financial services about the closures. The equivalent of 32 full-time roles will be impacted by the closures. In Victoria, branches will close in Ballarat Central, Bannockburn, Malop Street in Geelong, Korumburra, South Melbourne and Yarram. In Queensland, branches will close in Malanda and Tully North, while in Tasmania, the branches are Kings Meadows and Queenstown. Branches will close from August 1 to October 31. Bendigo Bank customers can continue to transact as normal at any Bendigo Bank branch, ATM or via internet banking, mobile banking or by phone. Customers can also transact in person using Australia Post's Bank@ in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data
ABC News
07-07-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Bendigo Bank to close 10 branches, leaving some regional towns without financial services
The closure of 10 Bendigo Bank branches across Australia by late October will mean the end of in-person banking for residents in five regional communities. Australia's Finance Sector Union (FSU) says the closures are a "slap in the face" in areas already seeing a decline in services from multiple industries. It comes after the federal government struck a deal with the big four banks to keep their regional branches open until at least mid-2027. That deal was made in February 2025 in response to an avalanche of regional bank branch closures since 2017. In Victoria branches will close in Ballarat Central, Bannockburn, Malop Street in Geelong, Korumburra, South Melbourne and Yarram. In Queensland branches will close in Malanda and Tully North and in Tasmania Kings Meadows and Queenstown. Bendigo Bank's Bannockburn branch is the last brick-and-mortar bank in the south-west Victorian town. Golden Plains Shire Mayor Owen Sharkey said the impending closure felt like deja vu for locals, who were left without a bank for a year between Westpac shutting its branch in 1997 and Bendigo Bank opening in 1998. "This is the only bank that services not just Bannockburn, but all of our surrounding township, so it's come as a very abrupt announcement," Cr Sharkey said. Bannockburn sits within the Golden Plains Shire, which has one of the fastest growing populations of all regional local government areas (LGAs) in Victoria. "Whenever I go in you've got four or five people waiting in [the branch], so it's not like it was a completely empty bank," Cr Sharkey said. The mayor said it was disappointing that the community was not given more time to adapt. "Bendigo Bank did a fantastic job with community grants in the area … the community banks would have put in close to a million dollars over that last 20 years," Cr Sharkey said. Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Limited reported a statutory net profit after tax of $216.8 million for the half year ending December 2024. Finance Sector Union (FSU) national secretary Julia Angrisano said the decision to close the branches was "a slap in the face" for those who relied on them. "This is an incredibly disturbing development and does not bode well for the future of Bendigo Bank's presence in regional Australia," Ms Angrisano said. Ms Angrisano said the union wanted to see legislation change to regulate banking as an essential service, as recommended by the Senate inquiry into regional banking that handed down its final report in 2024. She said the union had written about the issue to local MPs in affected towns, as well as the assistant treasurer and the minister for financial services. "It is critical that the federal government step in and protect bank workers and customers, given the banks have proven themselves to be incapable of doing anything other than putting profits and shareholders first," Ms Angrisano said. A spokesperson for Bendigo Bank said the company was "proud of its regional heritage" and maintained more branches per customer than any other Australian bank. "To continue delivering for our customers and communities, we must ensure our branches are adequately supported and resourced," the spokesperson said. The upcoming closure of Bendigo Bank's Queenstown branch in western Tasmania leaves its customers a more than two-and-a-half-hour drive from their nearest branch. West Coast Council Mayor Shane Pitts told the ABC he was disappointed the news was already out in the community before the council was informed. "There was a community bank and then that was handed to the Bendigo Bank, which was a few years ago now," Cr Pitts said. "I was skeptical then that one day this bank would close. "They assured us that that wasn't going to be the case." He said even before the announcement of the closure, the branch was not offering a full suite of services and opening hours had been cut back. When queried about the closure of the Ballarat branch, the Bendigo Bank spokesperson said the proximity of other branches was a factor in decision making.
The Sun
01-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Natwest, Lloyds and Halifax to shut 82 bank branches starting from TODAY- check if your local is safe
NATWEST, Lloyds and Halifax will close a total of 82 branches starting from today, in another blow to the high street. The major high street lenders have already reduced their portfolio of physical branches in recent years, as young customers continue to favour online banking. 1 Lloyds will close two branches today across Norfolk and Cornwall. Its branches in Fakenham and Wadebridge are due to shut today July 1, as part of planned closures announced earlier this year. Last month, the move to reduce its physical estate saw 16 bank branches wiped off the high street. The major lender which serves millions of customers across the UK, is expected to close a further 23 banks before the end of 2025. That includes sites across Sheffield, Manchester and Bristol. Halifax, which is also part of Lloyds banking group, will close a total of 25 bank branches before the end of the year. The high street branch will close on branch in Pontypridd in Wales on July 15. This comes after the lender closed 15 sites in June, with a remaining 24 branches set to shutter in September, October and November of this year. Elsewhere, NatWest will close 32 branches before the end of year, as it looks to pull back from bricks-and-mortar banking. Since 2015, the NatWest Group — which also includes Royal Bank of Scotland and Ulster Bank — has shut 1,409 branches. NatWest to close 53 bank branches in fresh blow to UK high street – see if your local is affected In 2023, the bank closed nearly 20 locations, followed by 48 more closures last year. Branches will start to shut from September, with the last closure of 2025 due to take place at the end on October. In June, the lender closed a total of 24 branches. Despite the closures, the bank has plans to invest £20million in its remaining network to modernise services and reduce environmental impact. You can check out the full list of Halifax, Lloyds and NatWest closures below: Halifax Pontypridd: 2/3 Mill Street CF37 2SN – 15/07/2025 Cirencester: 10/12 Cricklade Street GL7 1JH – 25/09/2025 Long Eaton: 24 Market Place NG10 1LT – 18/09/2025 Epsom: 51-52 The Ashley Centre KT18 5DB – 15/09/2025 Erdington: 221 High Street B23 6SS – 24/09/2025 Monmouth: 7/11 Monnow Street NP25 3EF – 16/09/2025 Morecambe: 6 Royalty Mall Arndale Centre LA4 5DS – 15/09/2025 Richmond: 21 The Quadrant TW9 1BP – 16/09/2025 Thetford: 4/4A King Street IP24 2AP – 17/09/2025 Walkden: 57 - 59 Bolton Road M28 3ZH – 25/09/2025 Sittingbourne: 70-74 High Street ME10 4PB – 15/10/2025 Southport: 8/12 London Street PR9 0UZ – 07/10/2025 Folkestone: 70-72 Sandgate Road CT20 2AA – 09/10/2025 Bristol: 15 Kings Chase Shopping Centre BS15 8LP – 08/10/2025 Carmarthen: 121/122 Lammas Street SA31 3AE – 06/10/2025 Hayes: 45/47 Station Road UB3 4HH – 06/10/2025 Mold: 25 High Street CH7 1AZ – 16/10/2025 Crewe: The Market Centre CW1 2HU – 14/10/2025 Stevenage: 97/99 Queensway SG1 1EA – 23/10/2025 Derby: 39 East Street DE1 2BL – 23/10/2025 Telford: 121 Ashdown Lane TF3 4AH – 22/10/2025 Hove: 86/87 George Street BN3 3YE – 20/10/2025 Wickford: 27/33 High Street SS12 9AE – 10/11/2025 Hexham: 20 Priestpopple NE46 1XH – 05/11/2025 Sleaford: 33/35 Southgate NG34 7SY – 06/11/2025 Lloyds Fakenham: 27 Norwich Street NR21 9AH – 01/07/2025 Wadebridge: 14 Molesworth Street PL27 7DE – 01/07/2025 Thetford: 35 King Street IP24 2AX – 17/09/2025 Monmouth: 18 Monnow Street NP25 3XH – 16/09/2025 Hornchurch: 21-25 Station Lane RM12 6JL – 11/09/2025 Kidderminster: 1 Vicar Street DY10 1DE – 16/10/2025 Southall: 25 The Broadway UB1 1JT – 15/10/2025 London (South West): 12 Mitcham Road SW17 9ND – 08/10/2025 Stoke-on-Trent: Hill Street & Hide Street ST4 1NG – 30/10/2025 Coventry: 531 Foleshill Road CV6 5JN – 04/11/2025 Hexham: Priestpopple NE46 1PA – 05/11/2025 Manchester: 64 Old Church Street M40 2JF – 05/11/2025 Sleaford: 2 Northgate NG34 7BL – 06/11/2025 Bristol: 16 Highridge Road BS13 8HA – 06/11/2025 Dunstable: 12 High Street North LU6 1JY – 04/11/2025 Feltham: 40 The Centre TW13 4AX – 04/11/2025 Chard: 27 Fore Street TA20 1PS – 11/11/2025 Sheffield: 5 Cross Street S13 7JQ – 11/11/2025 Shipston-on-Stour: 25 High Street CV36 4AJ – 11/11/2025 East Grinstead: 1/3 London Road RH19 1AH – 12/11/2025 Loughton: 11 The Broadway IG10 3SW – 12/11/2025 Falmouth: 11-12 Killigrew Street TR11 3RA – 13/11/2025 Leominster: 9 Corn Square HR6 8LT – 18/11/2025 Pontardawe: 66 Herbert Street SA8 4ED – 19/11/2025 Ferndown: 84 Victoria Road BH22 9JB – 17/11/2025 Natwest Birmingham - Acocks Green, Shop 3, 1160 Warwick Road, Birmingham, B27 6DF, 16/9/2025 Cardiff - Canton, 277 Cowbridge Road East, Cardiff, CF5 1WX, 16/9/2025 Cirencester, 32 Market Place, Cirencester, GL7 2NU, 17/9/2025 Ashby-de-la-Zouch, 54 Market Street, Ashby-De-La-Zouch, LE65 1BB, 18/9/2025 Wickford, 63 High Street, Wickford, SS12 9AH, 18/9/2025 Newmarket (Suffolk), 18 High Street, Newmarket, CB8 8LH, 24/9/2025 Abingdon, 11 Market Place, Abingdon, OX14 3HH, 24/9/2025 Birmingham - Smethwick, 34-38 High Street, Smethwick, B66 1DU, 25/9/2025 Yate, 3-5 North Walk, Bristol, BS37 4AG, 25/9/2025 Melton Mowbray, 7 High Street, Melton Mowbray, LE13 0TT, 29/9/2025 Birmingham - Shirley, 231 Stratford Road, Solihull, B90 3AJ, 29/9/2025 (MOBILE) Prestatyn, Lower High Street Car Park, Prestatyn, LL19 9LG, 29/9/2025 (MOBILE) Abergele, Tesco Car Park, Abergele, LL22 7AA, 29/9/2025 (MOBILE) Welshpool, Tesco Welshpool Car Park, Welshpool, SY21 7BL, 29/9/2025 Bicester, 1-7 Manorsfield Road, Bicester, OX26 6DA, 30/9/2025 Sudbury, 32 Market Hill, Sudbury, CO10 2EN, 30/9/2025 Leamington Spa, Royal Priors, 59 Parade, Leamington Spa, CV32 4ZX, 1/10/2025 Ringwood, 11 High Street, Ringwood, BH24 1BA, 1/10/2025 Paignton, 15 Victoria Street, Paignton, TQ4 5DE, 2/10/2025 Chippenham, 30 High Street, Chippenham, SN15 3HB, 15/10/2025 Lowestoft, 53 London Road North, Lowestoft, NR32 1BJ, 15/10/2025 Neath, 35 Green Street, Neath, SA11 1DB, 13/10/2025 Romsey, 27 Market Place, Romsey, SO51 8ZH, 13/10/2025 Redditch, Church Green House, Church Green East, Redditch, B98 8DG, 14/10/2025 Trowbridge, 62 Fore Street, Trowbridge, BA14 8EX, 16/10/2025 Mold, 48-50 High Street, Mold, CH7 1BA, 21/10/2025 Honiton, 94 High Street, Honiton, EX14 1JL, 21/10/2025 Dorchester, 49 South Street, Dorchester, DT1 1DW, 22/10/2025 Bridgwater, 9 York Buildings, Bridgwater, TA6 3BS, 27/10/2025 Kettering, 16 High Street, Kettering, NN16 8SZ, 28/10/2025 Leighton Buzzard, 27 High Street, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 1DX, 28/10/2025 Bridport, 22 East Street, Bridport, DT6 3LG, 29/10/2025 Customers being forgotten Customers are being forgotten, writes The Sun's Head of Consumer, Tara Evans. Customers are being forgotten, writes The Sun's Head of Consumer, Tara Evans. With branches closing and online banking taking over, customers can be left feeling cut off. We wrote about forgotten customers back in July on our Sun Money pages in our weekly newspaper section. People like David Elkins, 82, a retired service engineer from Calne, Wilts, who saw his HSBC branch close in 2023 and had to travel ten miles to the next nearest. He has a kidney issue and needs frequent dialysis, making it impractical. Banking hubs are emerging as a solution to address the gaps left by widespread closures - but there are not enough of them. There are plans for 146 of these, but so far there are only 60. You can use one of the Post Office's 11,635 branches to perform basic banking tasks, but they don't allow you to open or close accounts for example.
