Bank branches were once a staple of every high street and a necessity for most financial transactions. However, as people are increasingly moving their current accounts online, bank branches have been disappearing from the high streets of the UK at a rapid pace. Many people open, switch and manage their current account online these days. We look at the latest UK bank branch statistics.
Bank branch statistics: Highlights
In 2023, there were 5,100 bank branches open in the UK.
An estimated 55% of UK bank branches closed between 2012 and 2023.
Lloyds Banking Group had the most UK bank branches open in 2024, with 998.
Around 8 million UK adults (15%) want in-person interaction at a physical bank branch and, therefore, would not open a digital-only account.
The number of Barclays branches has dropped by 83% between 2017 and 2024.
Nationwide has seen the smallest decline in the number of bank branches, dropping by 12% between 2017 and 2024.
Number of bank branches in the UK
In 2023, 5,100 bank branches were open in the UK (not including building societies). This was down 55% from the 11,355 branches open in 2012.
Lloyds is the leading UK bank with the most branches, having an estimated 998 open in 2024. It is followed by Nationwide Building Society, which has an estimated 608 branches open in 2024.
Barclays has had the biggest drop in the number of physical branch branches since 2017, decreasing 83% from 1,309 to just 218 in 2024. NatWest has also seen a significant decline in the number of UK bank branches, dropping 72% from 1,537 in 2017 to just 437 in 2024.
Meanwhile, Nationwide has seen the smallest decrease in the number of bank branches out of the UK’s leading banks since 2017, dropping just 12% from 691 to 608.
Between January 2022 and February 2025, 1,530 bank branches have closed, and 66 more have announced they will be closing, adding up to a total of 1,596.
The majority of these closures and planned closures are coming from 5 major banks: Barclays closing 397 in total, Lloyds closing 292 in total, NatWest closing 242 in total, Halifax closing 212 in total and HSBC closing 183 in total.
Between 2012 and 2023, it is estimated that around 6,255 bank branches have closed in total.
Case study: Bank branch closure has left Samantha stressed
"When I found out that the branch was being closed, it was really frustrating, to say the least. It has made sure it’s harder for me to access actual face-to-face support. It’s meant that if I have a problem, I have to call or use my mobile banking app to access support.
There was no support offered or in place. To be honest, there wasn’t very much warning either, and it was only by chance that I discovered it was closing. No information was sent out or even uploaded onto the mobile app."
Samantha Evans
Wiltshire
Bank branch usage
A third of Brits (32%) would not consider opening a digital-only bank account, preferring traditional banks. 15% of Brits said preferring to speak to someone in person was why they wouldn’t open a digital-only bank account. This means around 8 million UK adults still rely on having a physical bank branch and in-person interaction.
Click here for more research. For all media enquiries, please contact –
Matt Mckenna
UK Head of Communications T: +44 20 8191 8806
Matthew Boyle is a banking and mortgages publisher at Finder. He has a 7-year history of publishing helpful guides to assist consumers in making better decisions. In his spare time, you will find him walking in the Norfolk countryside admiring the local wildlife. See full bio
Matthew's expertise
Matthew has written 279 Finder guides across topics including:
Helping first-time buyers apply for a mortgage
Comparing bank accounts and highlighting useful features
Sophie Barber is a senior content marketing manager for Finder in the UK. She has over 5 years experience in writing and publishing clear, concise and informative articles that help consumers make informed decisions. See full bio
Sophie's expertise
Sophie has written 97 Finder guides across topics including:
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