Future Retirement Success
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Investing
  • Stocks
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Investing
  • Stocks

Future Retirement Success

Business

More Than 6,000 UK Bank Branches Closed in Nine Years Amidst ‘Disastrous’ Impact

by May 17, 2024
May 17, 2024
More Than 6,000 UK Bank Branches Closed in Nine Years Amidst ‘Disastrous’ Impact

The number of UK bank branches that have permanently closed their doors over the past nine years will surpass 6,000 on Friday, a milestone that highlights the significant impact on local communities.

The consumer group Which? has published these figures as part of its effort to bring attention to the widespread closures and their detrimental effects, urging this issue to become a focal point in the upcoming general election.

Eight Barclays branches are set to close on Friday, bringing the total number of closures since 2015 to 6,005. Barclays alone is responsible for approximately 20% (1,216) of these closures, leading the tally among major banks.

Surge in Closures

The rate of closures peaked in 2017 but seemed to slow down until a recent surge. Which? accuses banks of engaging in a “race to close branches” following the government’s 2020 announcement of potential laws to protect access to cash, which could complicate branch closures if alternative provisions are lacking.

Banks justify these closures by pointing to a significant shift in customer behavior, with more people favoring online and mobile banking over traditional counter services. However, the trend has left many without convenient access to in-person banking services.

Future Banking Blackspots

By the end of the year, 33 parliamentary constituencies, including Erith and Thamesmead, Dagenham and Rainham in London, and Sedgefield, the former seat of Tony Blair, are expected to be without a single bank branch.

Impact on Communities

While millions have transitioned to digital banking, a considerable number of people, particularly those less tech-savvy, still rely on physical branches. The closures have forced some customers to travel long distances for essential services, such as registering power of attorney, which many banks require to be done in person.

Sam Richardson, Deputy Editor of Which? Money, noted that while some might not notice the closure of their local branch, “for others reliant on face-to-face services, the impact can be disastrous.”

Call to Action

With a general election on the horizon, Which? is advocating for the next government to commit to establishing at least 200 banking hubs within the first two years post-election. These hubs, managed by Post Office staff, offer services such as cash withdrawals, deposits, bill payments, and other regular transactions, essentially functioning as standard bank branches.

Response from Banks

Barclays, named as the bank with the most closures, stated: “As visits to branches continue to fall, we need to adapt to provide the best service for all our customers. Where levels of demand don’t support a branch, we maintain an in-person presence through our Barclays Local network, live in over 350 locations, based in libraries, town halls, mobile vans, and our banking pods.”

Constituencies Expected to Have No Bank Branches by Year-End

Barnsley East (Population: 94,000)
Bolton West (98,000)
Bradford South (106,000)
Bury South (103,000)
Central Suffolk and North Ipswich (102,000)
Chatham and Aylesford (103,000)
Clwyd South (70,000)
Colne Valley (112,000)
Dagenham and Rainham (117,000)
Denton and Reddish (88,000)
Don Valley (99,000)
East Worthing and Shoreham (99,000)
Erith and Thamesmead (117,000)
Glasgow North East (88,000)
Liverpool, West Derby (94,000)
Mid Bedfordshire (121,000)
Mid Derbyshire (83,000)
Newport East (84,000)
North East Derbyshire (92,000)
Nottingham East (98,000)
Penistone and Stocksbridge (89,000)
Plymouth Moor View (94,000)
Reading West (112,000)
Rhondda (68,000)
Sedgefield (85,000)
Sheffield Hallam (85,000)
St Helens North (100,000)
Stone (86,000)
Swansea East (81,000)
Warrington North (95,000)
Wentworth and Dearne (100,000)
Wirral West (68,000)
York Outer (92,000)

The ongoing wave of branch closures underscores the urgent need for solutions to ensure accessible banking services for all communities, particularly those who rely heavily on face-to-face interactions.

Read more:
More Than 6,000 UK Bank Branches Closed in Nine Years Amidst ‘Disastrous’ Impact

0
FacebookTwitterGoogle +Pinterest
previous post
Jeremy Hunt Promises Further Tax Cuts and Criticises Labour’s Plans
next post
AOC, ‘baby girl’ Marjorie Taylor Greene trade barbs in fiery Garland hearing: ‘Are your feelings hurt?’

You may also like

Moonpig slips into loss after £50m write-down hits...

December 11, 2024

Firms invited to access funded support as part...

November 14, 2023

Innovate UK pauses flagship grants scheme for SMEs...

January 31, 2025

Post Office to be Excluded from Horizon Compensation...

March 17, 2024

Last bank in Essex town to close in...

May 5, 2023

Elon Musk announces he has found new Twitter...

May 12, 2023

Amazon shares drop nearly 20% after company predicts...

October 28, 2022

SME confidence makes a cautious comeback

May 11, 2023

Employment trade body calls for tax promoters to...

June 28, 2023

Why ‘quiet firing’ is far from the easy...

July 31, 2023

    Get free access to all of the retirement secrets and income strategies from our experts! or Join The Exclusive Subscription Today And Get the Premium Articles Acess for Free

    By opting in you agree to receive emails from us and our affiliates. Your information is secure and your privacy is protected.

    Recent Posts

    • Russia says Ukrainian drones hit nuclear power plant during Independence Day strikes

      August 25, 2025
    • Earn $8,800 a day in passive income using your smartphone – Siton Mining Launches New Multi-Currency Cloud Mining App for BTC, XRP, and DOGE

      August 24, 2025
    • Trump gave the Oval Office a gilded makeover – and covered the cost himself

      August 24, 2025
    • Trump learns a lesson grounded in faith, how best to stand tough on trade with China

      August 24, 2025
    • Latest Decode Casino Bonus Code Deals You Shouldn’t Miss

      August 24, 2025
    • Israel set to launch Gaza City offensive: High stakes, high costs ahead

      August 24, 2025

    Categories

    • Business (8,867)
    • Investing (2,235)
    • Politics (16,475)
    • Stocks (3,228)
    • About us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions

    Disclaimer: futureretirementsuccess.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

    Copyright © 2025 futureretirementsuccess.com | All Rights Reserved