NatWest and RBS to close 32 branches in England and Wales
One of the sites is in Cardiff, the rest are in England.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Banking giant NatWest is to close 32 branches, including several RBS sites, as customers switch increasingly to using online services.
The bank said the sites, overwhelmingly in England, would close but did not say when.
The list includes the Royal Bank of Scotland branch in NatWest’s headquarters in Bishopsgate, in the heart of the City of London.
NatWest said 21 of the closures would be NatWest branches, and 11 of them RBS.
Most staff will be moved to other branches, but 12 jobs will be at risk.
All of the branches are in England apart from RBS’s Cardiff City branch. Others include sites in Billericay in Essex, Leeds, Manchester and several in London.
“As with many industries, most of our customers are shifting to mobile and online banking, because it’s faster and easier for people to manage their financial lives,” the bank said.
“We understand and recognise that digital solutions aren’t right for everyone or every situation, and that when we close branches we have to make sure that no-one is left behind.
“We take our responsibility seriously to support the people who face challenges in moving online, so we are investing to provide them with support and alternatives that work for them.”
Many of the UK’s high street bank chains have been shutting sites for years, sparking fears that less technologically savvy customers might struggle to manage their money.
Research carried out by Which? last year for the PA news agency showed that nearly half of bank branches have been lost since 2015, or are scheduled to close.
It counted 4,735 branches that had been earmarked for closure during the period, including 736 in 2021.
It is such a common occurrence that a week ago the Principality Building Society reassured staff and customers that it would keep all of its branches open until at least the end of 2025.
It has 53 branches in Wales and the border areas.
– NatWest closures
Billericay, EssexBorehamwood, HertfordshireBulwell & Hucknall, NottinghamshireChelsea, Greater LondonGillingham, KentGosforth, Tyne and WearHeadingley, West YorkshireHull University, East YorkshireLeatherhead, SurreyLeeds Victoria, West YorkshireManchester Spinningfields Square, Greater ManchesterMarlow, BuckinghamshireNottingham City, NottinghamshirePiccadilly & New Bond Street, Greater LondonRuislip, north-west LondonSouth Woodford, east LondonSwanley, KentTavistock Square, central LondonTwickenham, west LondonWindsor & Eton, BerkshireDerby Crompton House, Derbyshire
– Royal Bank of Scotland closures
Bishopsgate, City of LondonCardiff City, WalesChelmsford, EssexCheltenham, GloucestershireHarrow, north LondonLeeds Park Row, West YorkshireLeicester Market Street, LeicestershireLondon Child & CoNottingham City Office, NottinghamshireSouthampton High Street, HampshireWilmslow, Cheshire
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.