11 UK Towns Facing Highest Bank Branch Closures in 2026 Revealed

Hundreds of bank branches across the United Kingdom have shuttered in recent years, and the trend is set to continue with a significant wave of closures planned for 2026. UK banking institutions have announced over 240 branch closures scheduled for the next two years, marking a substantial shift in the retail banking landscape.

Major Banks Leading the Closure Wave

The closures are spearheaded by some of the country's largest financial groups. Lloyds Banking Group is set to close 95 branches, Santander will shut down 44 locations, and NatWest plans to close 32 branches. These shutdowns are part of a broader industry response to changing customer behaviors and the increasing adoption of digital banking services.

While these closures are distributed across various regions of the UK, analysis has identified 11 specific towns that will be disproportionately affected, emerging as the worst hotspots for bank branch shutdowns in 2026.

Full List of 11 Worst Towns for Bank Branch Closures

Bridgend, South Wales: Will lose two banks in 2026; Santander on May 12 and Halifax on June 11.
Cwmbran, South Wales: Santander will close on May 13 and Halifax on June 2.
Boston, Lincolnshire: Santander closes on April 28 and NatWest on June 11.
Deal, Kent: Already lost Halifax on January 22, with Lloyds scheduled to shut on October 8.
Evesham, Worcestershire: Losing Santander on April 28, with NatWest also due to close in 2026.
Havant, Hampshire: Lost Halifax on January 15 and Lloyds on January 19.
Heswall, Merseyside: Santander will close on May 13 and Lloyds on June 23.
Golders Green, London: Santander closes on May 13 and Lloyds on June 8.
West End/Oxford Street area, London: Lloyds will close on May 27 and NatWest on September 30.
Pontefract, West Yorkshire: Losing Santander on May 5 and NatWest on June 4.
Ringwood, Hampshire: Santander closes on May 6 and Lloyds on June 23.
Welwyn Garden City: Santander closes on May 5 and NatWest on June 3.

Banking Industry Response to Branch Closures

A spokeswoman for Lloyds Banking Group explained the rationale behind the closures, stating: "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."

Santander's spokeswoman added: "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 provided further context: "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."

The bank also noted that closure guides have been shared for branches announced previously, where they are awaiting new local cash recommendations to be established or renovation works to be completed before final closure dates can be confirmed.

This comprehensive list highlights the ongoing transformation of the UK banking sector, with traditional branch networks continuing to contract as financial institutions adapt to evolving customer preferences and technological advancements.