Nationwide extends branch promise as building society vows not to leave any town until 2028

It means everywhere it has a branch, Nationwide promises to "still be there" until at least the start of 2028.

The building society unveiled the Branch Promise extension today as it confirmed an offer for Virgin Money UK PLC.

Nationwide said should it be successful in buying Virgin Money, the pledge would also apply to Virgin Money branches, following the completion of any existing Virgin Money branch closure plans.

The building society currently has a network of more than 600 branches.

Are you affected by bank branch closures? If you'd like to share your story, get in touch by emailing money@gbnews.uk.

On its website, Nationwide said: "We're not closing our branches. We know branches are important to our customers.

"So, everywhere we have a branch, we promise to still be there until at least the start of 2028.

"There may be circumstances outside of our control that mean we have to close a branch.

"But we will only do this if we don’t have another workable option."

Thousands of bank and building societies have closed branches in recent years, with 5,908 sites closing since January 2015, according to Which?.

Hundreds of people have told GB News they are concerned about widespread bank branch closures.

Some have said they're now forced to travel for miles to visit their nearest bank branch.

One told GB News: "I will never do internet banking so a high street bank is essential. It is disgraceful that the banks reduce choice for the customers!”

Another penned: “As far as I'm concerned, bank closures are a travesty, and part of the ongoing push to remove cash from the economy.

"The lie that customers prefer to bank online is exposed every time you try to use a bank, and they say: ‘Are you aware you could do this online, Sir’.

"I always retort, ‘Are you aware that you are talking yourself out of a job’."

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