55 NatWest Branches to Close in 2025 – Is Yours on the List?

• Another 55 NatWest branches – including 3 mobile banks – to vanish
• Full list of towns hit, from Torquay to Torfaen, revealed
• Over 1,400 NatWest branches have closed since 2015
• Digital banking blamed as vulnerable customers left behind

The high street’s taking another wallop – and this time, it’s NatWest bringing the hammer down.

A fresh wave of 55 branch closures has just been announced, including three of the bank’s mobile van units. From Birmingham to Bridport, Torquay to Trowbridge, thousands of locals are now facing life without a physical bank.

Consumer reporter Sam Walker revealed in The Sun that this move adds to a staggering 1,409 closures from the NatWest Group (which includes Royal Bank of Scotland and Ulster Bank) since 2015. If your town still has one, you’re in the minority.

What’s behind the shuttering spree? NatWest says it’s the shift to digital. Over 80% of customers now use its app or website – and 97% of new accounts are opened online.

But critics argue it’s older customers and those with disabilities who pay the price. A recent Which? survey found that 39% of over-65s don’t use online banking at all, and many feel increasingly shut out.

What towns are affected?

You might want to sit down with a cuppa – the list is long. Torquay, Leamington Spa, Wellingborough, Cardiff, Northampton, Redditch, and Stratford-upon-Avon are all on the chopping block.

Even mobile units serving Prestatyn, Abergele, and Welshpool are being parked for good.

NatWest insists it's investing £20m in branch upgrades and community "pop-up" support hubs – but the long-term trend is clear: the days of popping into your local bank are numbered.

What to do if your branch is gone?

Don’t panic. Most basic services – deposits, withdrawals, and even paying bills – can be done at your local Post Office. It's not quite the same, but it's something.

There’s also the Banking Hubs initiative, and in some rural areas, mobile banks in buses or temporary set-ups in libraries and halls.

And yes, you can give online banking a go – but do it on your terms. Take time to learn, ask your bank for help, and don’t fall for phishing scams pretending to be your bank.

Tom’s Tip:

I always tell my followers, “Use tech when it helps, not when it pressures.” Try the Post Office first – and if your bank's going digital-only, make them work to support you. You’re the customer. You have the power.

Tom Church, Co-Founder of LatestDeals.co.uk the discount code platform said, "This is a worrying trend that leaves too many people behind. While digital banking is convenient for some, it shouldn’t come at the cost of financial inclusion. Banks need to balance innovation with accessibility."