NATWEST is closing a number of its banks this week as part of a major reduction plan.
The bank plans to shut 30 branches nationwide this year in a push for digital services.
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NatWest is closing some of its branches this week Credit: Alamy
NatWest will close more branches between June 15 and June 18 as part of its ongoing network overhaul Credit: Bloomberg via Getty Images
From today until Thursday, sites across London, West Yorkshire and Essex will be affected.
It comes after NatWest Group announced plans earlier this year to shut 30 branches during 2026, alongside a further nine branch closures scheduled for later in the year.
It adds to 250 high street bank branches shutting down across the UK, including Lloyds, Halifax, NatWest, and Santander, all heavily reducing their physical presence.
According to consumer group Which?, NatWest Group has closed 1,553 branches since January 2015, more than any other banking group.
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The NatWest branch located at 17 High Street in Grays, Edinburgh is permanently closed from today, due to declining in-branch customer footfall.
On Wednesday, NatWest in 216 Bishopsgate, Spitalfields, London will shut for good.
On Thursday a West Yorkshire bank will shut in Waterhouse Street, Halifax.
Plus, another London branch will shut in Fulham Broadway on Thursday.
Once the latest closures and those planned later this year have been completed, NatWest Group will operate 336 branches across the UK.
This will include 249 NatWest branches, 62 Royal Bank of Scotland locations and 25 Ulster Bank sites.
Despite the closures, NatWest Group has sought to reassure customers by confirming that no further branch closure announcements will be made until at least 2029.
NatWest Group has pledged to invest £50million in its remaining branch network over the next 18 months to modernise existing sites, refurbish branches and relocate some locations where needed.
The group said that around 95 per cent of customers now use some form of digital banking.
However, the bank recognises that many people still rely on in-person support for managing their finances.
Solange Chamberlain, chief executive of retail banking at NatWest Group, said: “We are investing to offer customers a seamless mix of ways to bank with us, including over the phone, digitally, or via our free-to-use ATM network — while continuing to support those who prefer face-to-face banking in branches and community banking hubs.”
