Over the past five years, UK high streets have seen a significant decline in bank branches, with many closing their doors for good. Among them is HSBC, with the bank announcing closures, shutting down more than 300 branches within just a few years. With more customers switching to online banking, physical bank branches are becoming increasingly rare. Although HSBC has not closed any branches in 2024 and 2025, many were shut between 2020 and 2023.
The bank stated it has not launched a new branch closure programme since November 2022. In August that year, HSBC pledged not to announce any further closures until at least 2026. A spokesperson confirmed that HSBC remains committed to investing in its existing branch network and currently has no plans for additional closures beyond this commitment.
The bank continues to support customers and communities through services beyond its physical branches, including HSBC Local, Banking Hubs, and access to accounts via the Post Office network.
Other banks have been shutting their physical branches too. Unlike HSBC, Santander, Lloyds and Halifax have closed some of their locations in 2025.
This year, Lloyds Bank has closed 96 of its branches while Santander has shut 76 and Halifax has closed 100 branches.
More than half of all UK bank branches have already disappeared since 2015, with lenders citing falling footfall and the rise of online banking as key reasons.
But critics of these closures argue they hit the hardest in rural areas and smaller towns, where many people, particularly the elderly and vulnerable, still rely on face-to-face services.
