Over 600 bank branches that were open at the start of the year are due to close by the end of December, according to the Financial Times (FT).
Another 42 are pencilled in for closure in 2024.
The FT analysed data from ATM provider Link and found nearly three fifths of banks have disappeared since 2015.
So what do you do if your local bank has closed down? Find out where you can withdraw cash, deposit cheques, manage your payments and get face-to-face advice from someone from your bank.
The Post Office
Customers of nearly all banks, including Barclays, Halifax, HSBC, Lloyds, NatWest and Santander, can go to any of the Post Office’s 11,500 branches to:
- withdraw or deposit cash
- deposit a cheque
- check their balance
Go to the Post Office website and select your bank from the dropdown list to see what options are available to you.
Banking hubs
This is an initiative set up to fill the gap left by the widespread closure of local banks across the UK.
Under the scheme, several banks all operate from the same building. You can go there to speak to someone from your bank and manage payments like Direct Debits.
You can also withdraw and deposit cash from a banking hub, regardless of who you bank with.
Banking hubs work on a rota basis. This means staff from different banks will be there on different days.
The banks currently taking part in the banking hub scheme are:
- Bank of Ireland UK
- Barclays
- Danske Bank
- HSBC
- Lloyds
- Nationwide Building Society
- NatWest
- Santander
- TSB
- Virgin Money
Find out if there’s a banking hub near you. There are currently eight banking hubs across the UK, with plans to open another 60 in the near future.
Mobile and pop-up banks
Many of the big players - including Barclays, Halifax, HSBC, Lloyds, NatWest, RBS and TSB - also offer mobile or pop-up banks. These are typically there to give face-to-face advice and don’t usually offer cash or counter services.
To find out more, go to your bank’s website.
Cash machines (ATMs)
If you just want to withdraw cash, the easiest option is probably a free ATM.
UseLink’s free cash locator to find the one nearest to you.
Your local shop
Over 1,000 local shops offer a cashback without purchase scheme. You can withdraw anything from 1p to £50 without buying anything. Most shops don’t charge a fee but they can, so check first.
To find your nearest shop offering this service, use Link’s free cash locator.
Online banking
If it’s an option for you, online banking or banking through an app on your phone can make life a lot easier.
It allows you to carry out a whole range of banking from the comfort of your own home or while you’re on the go. Services include:
- managing payments, like Direct Debits
- depositing cheques
- transferring money
- applying for credit cards, loans and savings accounts
Visit your bank’s website to find out what online services they offer.
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