Four major high street banks are set to close 52 branches across the UK in May, leaving many communities without local banking services.
Santander will shut 27 sites during the month, while NatWest plans to close 15 branches.
Lloyds Bank will close eight locations and Halifax will shut two.
The closures affect towns and cities across Britain, from Bishop Auckland in the north to Gosport on the south coast.
Several branches have already closed, with further shutdowns scheduled throughout May.
The latest wave of closures comes as banks continue to reduce their physical presence and shift towards digital services.
Since January 2015, banks and building societies have closed 6,719 branches, according to Which? — an average of around 53 closures per month for more than a decade.
Banks say the changes reflect a growing number of customers using online and mobile banking services.
Santander is among the banks shutting branches this month
| GETTYHowever, charities have raised concerns about the impact on vulnerable customers, warning that those who rely on in‑person services or cash access may face increasing difficulty managing their finances.
Campaigners representing older people say the consequences are already being felt.
The Civil Service Pensioners’ Alliance (CSPA) said the rapid disappearance of branches is creating “real barriers to everyday financial independence” for thousands of pensioners who cannot or do not want to bank online.
The organisation warned that many older customers rely on face‑to‑face support to withdraw cash, resolve problems and stay in control of their money — particularly those without reliable internet access or confidence using digital tools.
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Banks, including NatWest, was recently impacted by bank app outages | GETTY The CSPA also highlighted the UK’s shift towards a “cash‑light” economy, arguing that cash remains a vital budgeting tool for many in later life.
It said the loss of branches not only undermines financial inclusion but also weakens high streets and removes an important point of contact between banks and the communities they serve.
The group is calling for stronger protections for cash, faster rollout of shared banking hubs and recognition that traditional banking remains essential for millions.
One pensioner told the organisation that after visiting her local branch to arrange transfers, the staff member thanked her — “for helping her keep her job.”
Full list of Bank branch closures in May
Santander (27 closures)
May 6: Bishop Auckland; Gosport High Street; Haverfordwest; Huntingdon; Pontefract; Welwyn Garden City
May 7: Leyland; Mansfield; Merthyr Tydfil; Newtownabbey Glengormley; Northallerton; Ringwood
May 12: Andover; Bridgend; Enniskillen; Macclesfield; Stratford‑upon‑Avon
May 13: Cwmbran; Golders Green; Heswall Telegraph Road; Redditch; Stranraer
May 19: Banbridge; Newton Abbot; Stafford
May 20: Birmingham Shirley; Liskeard
NatWest (15 closures)
May 11: Barnet; Eastcote
May 12: Portishead; Ashford (Middlesex); Manchester Cheetham Hill
May 13: Brentwood
May 14: Hartlepool
May 18: London Tooting; Loughton Old Station Road (Sainsbury’s)
May 19: Hove
May 20–21: Manchester Chorlton; Harlow
May 21: Hornchurch
May 27: Orpington
May 28: Waltham Cross
Lloyds Bank (8 closures)
May 18: Falmouth
May 21: Wymondham
May 27–28: Bournemouth; London Fitzrovia; Streatham; Victoria; West End; Redhill
Halifax (2 closures)
May 27: London Pentonville Chapel Market
May 28: London Hammersmith