Lloyds Banking Group Announces Major Branch Closures Across UK and London
Lloyds Banking Group has unveiled plans to close 95 branches throughout the United Kingdom, significantly impacting customers of Lloyds Bank, Halifax, and Bank of Scotland. This move is part of a broader strategy to reduce the group's high street presence, with closures scheduled to occur between May 2026 and March 2027.
London-Specific Closures and Details
In London, the closures will affect a total of 25 branches, comprising eight Lloyds and six Halifax locations. The first wave of closures in the capital is set for May 27, 2026, targeting four specific branches: the Fitzrovia, Victoria, and West End Oxford Street branches of Lloyds, along with Halifax's Pentonville branch. This announcement follows earlier plans by Lloyds to shut 49 branches nationwide by October 2026, building on a previous commitment from January 2021 to close 136 branches by March 2026.
Once all previously declared closures are completed, Lloyds Banking Group will maintain a network of 610 branches across the UK. Additionally, NatWest has recently revealed its own closure plans, affecting 32 branches, with 11 of these located in London. The NatWest closures in London will commence on May 11, 2026, starting with the High Street, Barnet branch.
Broader Context and Industry Trends
Since February 2022, when major banks agreed to a voluntary commitment to assess the consequences of each closure, a total of 2,236 branches have either closed or announced intentions to cease operations. This equates to an average of at least one closure per day, or eight per week. In London alone, 301 banks have either ceased trading or are due to close, highlighting a significant shift away from traditional brick-and-mortar banking.
The LINK initiative was established to evaluate each closure and ensure that vulnerable customers and small businesses are not left behind in the transition towards cashless transactions and online banking. To mitigate the impact, banking hubs and complimentary ATMs are being introduced in communities left without any neighbourhood bank.
Statements from Industry Leaders
Nick Quin, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at LINK, commented: "While more people choose to use contactless and digital payments, there are still millions who rely on and prefer to pay using cash. Alongside ATMs and Post Offices, banking hubs continue to help people and businesses to readily access and deposit cash. We recommended a further 15 banking hubs yesterday which will play a part in supporting access to cash across the UK."
Gareth Oakley, CEO at Cash Access UK, added: "We're delighted to see the difference that banking hubs have made for communities across the UK. It's a clear reminder that while more people are choosing to bank digitally, cash and face-to-face services still remain essential for many. We have opened 212 hubs to date and are excited to continue rolling out these services in the communities that need them most. Customers can visit the hubs any day of the week for their everyday banking transactions, and if you have a specific or more complex enquiry for your bank, a community banker will be there to help on the day they're in the hub."
An interactive map is available for users to check if any bank branches in their local area are affected by these closures, providing a tool to stay informed about the changing landscape of high street banking.
