Millions of NatWest customers could find that their local branch is closing, as the bank plans to shut 25 sites next month and 53 this year. According to Which? the UK has seen 6,161 bank branches close their doors since January 2015 – roughly 53 a month.
A NatWest spokesperson said the move came as customers were switching to digital banking in their droves. The spokesperson told The Sun: “Our customers are using digital banking more than ever before – over 80% of our active current account holders now use our digital services and over 97% of retail accounts with us are now opened online.
The spokesperson added that although branches will be being shut next month, the bank would be putting more money into the ones it is keeping open.
They said: “We are also significantly investing in refreshing our network – we expect to invest in excess of £20m in our network across the UK in 2025 to improve customer service, enhance the look and feel of our branches, and reduce the environmental impact of our buildings, as well as continuing to invest in shared solutions like the Post Office and Banking Hubs.”
The statement continued: “Like any business, we strive to meet our customers’ changing needs and expectations and we’ve been responding to the industry wide shift towards digital services by investing to broaden what customers can do themselves and to offer them greater personalisation.”
