A MAP displays the locations of the 21 bank branches, including Halifax and Lloyds, that are closing this month. The newest data from LINK, which records bank closures, shows that a large number of branches are closing in England, Wales, and Scotland in March.
In February, 19 bank branches of the Lloyds Banking Group closed their doors for good. Before the month is out, TSB, Halifax, Bank of Scotland, and Lloyds will all close their locations. Two of these, in Bletchley, Bucks, and Presteigne, in Powys, Wales, are closing for good today. Three weeks from now, 19 other branches will permanently close.
As consumers increasingly shop online, bank branches have closed at a startling rate throughout the United Kingdom in recent years. 6,870 UK branches were operating between 1986 and 2024, according to data from the British Banking Association (BBA) and the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
As more people choose online and digital banking, banks have attributed the closures to these shifts in consumer behaviour. Fears have been expressed, though, that disadvantaged and isolated homes will suffer if physical branches on the high street close.
Approximately 39% of adults over 65 who were at “high risk of financial exclusion” did not utilise online banking, according to research. More than half of disabled or impaired persons reported that bank closures had a negative effect on them, according to a survey last year.
Banks in the UK have strengthened their budgets by eliminating branches, according to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The financial services watchdog anticipates that the closure trend would continue to decline.
How to handle the closure of your neighbourhood bank branch
You have a few options if there isn’t a bank or building society close by because of a recent shutdown. The Post Office closest to you can handle the majority of your basic banking needs. However, you won’t be able to create a new bank account or apply for a loan there.
Using the location feature on its website, you can locate the Post Office branch that is closest to you. Some banks provide mobile banking, which is a bus service that travels to your location and provides services that are typically available in a conventional branch. Other banks provide mobile banking services through structures like libraries or village halls.
Here is the complete list of the Lloyds Bank branch closures that will take place in March:
- Bletchley, 87-89 Queensway – March 3
- Presteigne, 52 Hereford Street – March 3
- Blyth, 43 Waterloo Road– March 4
- Surbiton, 1 Claremont Road – March 4
- Dewsbury, 20 Market Place – March 10
- Hailsham, Market Street – March 26
- Sidcup, 60 Sidcup High Street – March 26
- Market Harborough, 40 The Square – March 27
- Rugeley, 3 Upper Brook Street – March 27
- Whitley Bay, 257 Whitley Road – March 31
- Chester Road Newquay, Chester Road – March 31
Here is the complete list of the Halifax bank branch closures that will take place in March:
- Burgess Hill, 11 Church Road – March 4
- Didcot, 7 Orchard Street – March 10
- Camberley, 20/22 High Street – March 11
- Gosport, 60/61 High Street – March 12
- Hailsham, 54/56 High Street – March 26
- Normanton, 49/51 High Street – March 27
Here is the complete list of the Bank of Scotland branch closures taking place in March:
- Montrose, 31 High Street – March 10
- Callander, 42 Main Street – March 20
A spokesperson for Lloyds Banking Group stated: “Over 20 million customers are using our apps for on-demand access to their money, and customers have more choice and flexibility than ever for their day-to-day banking.
“Alongside our apps, customers can also use telephone banking, visit a Community Banker or use any Halifax, Lloyds or Bank of Scotland branch, giving access to many more branches.
“Customers can also do their everyday banking at over 11,000 branches of the Post Office or in a banking hub.”
