Nationwide and Virgin Money pledges to keep all 696 branches open until 2030

The announcement contrasts sharply with the wider financial sector, where branch closures continue at pace.

The commitment applies in towns where Nationwide and Virgin Money branches are located close together, according to the Daily Mail.

Nationwide’s decision will preserve physical access to banking services in communities where traditional branches have become increasingly scarce.

The extended guarantee comes as many banks accelerate their retreat from face-to-face services, leaving towns and villages with limited options for in-person banking.

Over the past decade, more than 6,000 branches have disappeared from British communities, according to consumer group Which?

NatWest and RBS have shut 1,377 sites, while Lloyds Banking Group, which includes Bank of Scotland, Halifax and Lloyds, has closed 1,252.

Barclays has withdrawn from 1,230 locations and HSBC from 743. By the end of 2025, industry data suggests 6,731 branches will have closed across the sector.

This widespread withdrawal has left Nationwide as the last remaining provider in many towns across Britain.

The building society had previously reduced its estate by 152 sites over ten years before introducing its no-closure promise in 2023.

That represented around one-fifth of its total branch network at the time. Nationwide’s chief executive Dame Debbie Crosbie said that while others viewed branches as commercially unviable, theirs were "thriving".

She added: "This isn't just a business decision. It's a statement of values."

This news will come as a relief to Nationwide's 16 million-plus members.

Following its acquisition of Virgin Money UK PLC, the society is connected with one in three people in the UK, and is the second largest provider of mortgages and retail deposits.

Shadow Chancellor Sir Mel Stride MP welcomed the announcement as "a shot in the arm for our high streets and local communities", adding: "Banking services should be local and accessible for everyone."

Martin McTague, chair of the Federation of Small Businesses, praised the move, saying branches remained essential for small firms, saying: "Face-to-face services are vital for managing cash flow and business banking needs that digital alternatives cannot replace."

Nationwide warned that branch closures have a disproportionate impact on vulnerable customers, especially older people who rely on personal service and support.

The society reported strong branch usage, with a third of current accounts and one-fifth of savings accounts opened in-person during the six months to September.

Both figures were higher than the previous year.

Nationwide said demand was particularly strong in areas where it now operates as the only remaining bank.

Since January, another 33 branches have become the sole banking presence in their communities after rival closures.

More than one in ten new student accounts were opened in-person this academic year, challenging assumptions that younger customers prefer digital-only services.

Beyond traditional banking, branches now play a wider role in community support.

Nationwide hosts dementia clinics in partnership with Dementia UK’s specialist admiral nurses, runs digital skills sessions, and offers safe spaces for domestic abuse survivors.

These community initiatives highlight how branches have evolved beyond transactional services into social and support hubs.

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