**Dozens of UK Bank Branches Set to Close in May Amid Ongoing Shift to Digital Services**
Major high street banks across the UK have confirmed the imminent closure of more than 80 branches throughout May, intensifying concerns about the dwindling physical presence of local banking services. This wave of closures affects popular brands such as Barclays, Halifax, Lloyds, NatWest, and others, and follows a trend that has seen a substantial reduction in bank branches over the past decade.
Industry observers point to a steadily declining demand for in-branch banking as driving the decisions, with more customers opting for digital and mobile banking platforms. According to campaign group Which?, approximately 6,300 branches and building societies have closed since January 2015, which averages out at about 53 closures every month. Bank groups insist that the shift to online banking has left many branches underused, yet campaigners remain worried about the impact on vulnerable communities and older residents.
The closures come as high street banking groups make further attempts to rationalise their operations to reflect changing consumer behaviours. Lloyds Bank is set to lead the charge with 27 branches closing their doors for the final time in May, followed by Halifax with 17 closures and Bank of Scotland with nine. Barclays, meanwhile, will close three of its sites, while NatWest has confirmed that 21 branches are scheduled to go. Ulster Bank will also close a site in Northern Ireland, though the exact location has yet to be revealed.
The effects of these changes are likely to be felt most acutely in smaller towns and suburban communities, many of which have seen multiple bank closures over recent years. Some critics argue that these decisions risk leaving parts of the public – especially the elderly and those less comfortable with digital technology – cut off from essential financial services. In response, banks have highlighted increased investment in online security and digital education, but questions remain about adequate provision for those still reliant on physical branches.
A spokesperson for Lloyds Banking Group said that the closures follow careful analysis of patterns in customer usage and are aimed at ensuring resources are deployed where they are most needed. They emphasised that customers will still have access to banking via the Post Office and mobile branch services, and that personalised support will be provided to those who need extra help during the transition period.
Among the towns set to lose their last remaining branch is Bromsgrove, where both Lloyds and Halifax will be shutting their doors this May. Similarly, other communities such as Banff, Barrowhead, and Wetherby are bracing themselves for the closure of their local banking hubs, sparking concern from residents and local officials.
NatWest has defended its decision to close 21 branches in May, citing a 62 per cent fall in face-to-face transactions between 2019 and 2024. The bank points to the proliferation of digital services and self-service kiosks, noting that fewer customers are entering branches each year.
Below is a comprehensive, alphabetically ordered list of all UK bank branches due to close in May, covering Barclays, Halifax, Lloyds, NatWest, Bank of Scotland, TSB, and Ulster Bank. Customers are encouraged to check this list for their local areas and to seek advice from their banks about which alternative services are available.
**Barclays:** Borehamwood (2 May), Leiston (2 May), Whitby (2 May).
**Bank of Scotland:** Banff (8 May), Barrhead (21 May), Edinburgh George St (6 May), Edinburgh Wester Hailes (27 May), Kirkintilloch (22 May), Leven (7 May), Peebles (27 May), Sanquhar (28 May), Uddingston (22 May).
**Halifax:** Acomb (5 May), Alnwick (15 May), Bangor (29 May), Balham (22 May), Birmingham (19 May), Bromsgrove (29 May), Cannon Street (28 May), Fulham (27 May), Huntingdon (15 May), Keynsham (14 May), London Strand (8 May), Omagh (19 May), Rayleigh (20 May), St Austell (13 May), Waltham Cross (27 May), Wetherby (13 May), Whitby (14 May), Wilmslow (19 May).
**Lloyds:** Alnwick (15 May), Beccles (6 May), Bolton Farnworth (28 May), Bishop Auckland (8 May), Bridgnorth (20 May), Bristol Clifton (21 May), Bristol Patchway (28 May), Bromsgrove (7 May), Cardiff Whitchurch (29 May), Fulham (27 May), Godalming (29 May), Herne Bay (21 May), Launceston (12 May), Leyland (8 May), Louth (7 May), Ludlow (20 May), Margate (14 May), Matlock (7 May), New Milton (13 May), Newland University (14 May), Pontyclun (12 May), Prudhoe (15 May), Rayleigh (20 May), Sherborne (19 May), South Elmsall (19 May), Southampton Shirley (7 May), Wetherby (13 May).
**NatWest:** Denton Park Newcastle-Upon-Tyne (1 May), Windermere (1 May), Hollinwood (7 May), Hunter’s Bar Sheffield (7 May), Morley (8 May), Widnes (8 May), Eanam (12 May), Cannock (12 May), Goole (14 May), Aintree Black Bull (14 May), Allenton Derby (13 May), Urmston (13 May), Leyland (15 May), Farnworth (15 May), Trafford Park (20 May), Wilmslow (20 May), Basford (21 May), Wallasey Precinct (21 May), Long Eaton (29 May), Rawtenstall (29 May).
**TSB:** Banff (27 May), Bedlington (28 May), Flint (29 May), Tenbury Wells (20 May), Whitchurch (21 May).
**Ulster Bank:** Not yet announced – Northern Ireland branch (23 May).
As banks continue to scale back their high street operations, the future of face-to-face banking in many communities remains uncertain. While digital banking offers convenience and efficiency for many, the closures have reignited debate about financial inclusion and the social role of local bank branches in towns across the UK.