Three major UK banks – Lloyds, Halifax and Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) – are set to close a total of 26 branches in September 2026, accelerating the high street's shift away from in-person banking. The closures affect communities from Birmingham to Glasgow, with Halifax accounting for 15 of the shutdowns, Lloyds five, and RBS six.
Halifax leads September closures with 15 branches
Halifax will shutter 15 branches across England in September, following the closure of 25 sites in June. The bank said decisions on branch futures are "based on a range of factors, including how customers are choosing to bank and the availability of nearby services." The September list includes Horsham (08/09), Cannock (09/09), Barrow-in-Furness (10/09), Milton Keynes (23/09), Woking (23/09), Guildford (24/09), London-Camden Town (24/09), Canterbury (28/09), Wimbledon (28/09), North Finchley (28/09), Durham (29/09), Ealing Broadway (29/09), Basingstoke (30/09), Bury St Edmunds (30/09), and High Wycombe (30/09).
These closures come as Lloyds Banking Group consolidates its Halifax brand into Lloyds. Nearly 200 Halifax sites will become Lloyds branches in 2027. Jas Singh, the group's chief executive of consumer relationships, reassured customers: "As Halifax changes to Lloyds, our Halifax customers will keep everything they know and love today - the same fantastic app design, the same friendly faces in our branches - even the same sort code and account number."
Lloyds and RBS closures target urban and Scottish areas
Lloyds Bank will close five branches in August and September, including Birmingham-Handsworth (23/09), City of London-Whitechapel High Street (23/09), Harrow (23/09), Chelmsford (24/09), and Carlisle (29/09). Meanwhile, RBS will close six branches in Scotland: Milngavie (08/09), Arbroath (09/09), Castle Douglas (10/09), Motherwell (10/09), Biggar (16/09), and Glasgow-Giffnock (17/09).
The closures reflect a broader industry trend. According to consumer group Which?, the UK has lost over 6,000 bank branches since 2015, with more than 3,000 closures announced in the last three years alone. Banks argue that digital adoption has reduced footfall, with many branches seeing fewer than 100 customers per week.
Impact on loyal customers and communities
The brand consolidation has drawn criticism from long-time customers. Nasar Ahmed, 50, who worked at Halifax as a graduate before it merged with Bank of Scotland, told the Guardian: "Growing up, obviously all my family banked with it. My dad came [to Halifax] in 1962 and he’s always banked with Halifax." He noted that banks are "thinking about where their new customer base is, which is mainly online. So they’re getting rid of the high street brand, the high-street processes there. And they’re looking to reduce cost as much as possible." Ahmed warned that eradicating the brand would have a "massive" impact on loyal customers and the wider region.
Local authorities and campaigners have repeatedly called for better protection of branch services, especially in rural and deprived areas. The September closures will leave some towns with no bank branch at all, forcing residents to rely on mobile banking or travel significant distances for cash services.
What customers should do
Affected customers are advised to check their bank's website for alternative branch locations and services. Halifax and Lloyds customers can use any branch of either brand, and RBS customers can use NatWest branches. All banks offer online and phone banking, but for those who prefer face-to-face services, community banking hubs are being piloted in some areas.
As the banking sector continues its digital pivot, further closures are expected. The full list of September closures is available on each bank's website.
