This month, Barclays has confirmed the closure of 27 of its bank branches - in addition to the 13 it revealed in March.
So far this year the bank has already closed 63 branches - combined with the 40 now scheduled for closure, by the end of the year it will have closed 103 sites.
Barclays told us more of its customers were doing their banking via digital channels, and less than 10% of its transactions were done in person.
Here, Which? takes a closer look at what branches are closing, and what measures are in place to protect cash.
Which Barclays branches are closing?
Here are the locations of the 40 Barclays branches that will be closing in the remainder of the year. You can use the search bar to see if your local branch is affected.
Why are these branches closing?
Barclays said it would continue to review and adjust its branch network to ensure it reflected the way its customers do their banking.
It said it had 10m digital customers, and 70% of its activity can be done digitally.
A spokesman added: ‘We will always give 12 weeks’ notice of any branch closures, explaining the rationale for the decision, as well as highlighting alternative branches and ways to bank.
‘This includes working with the local community to find different, more flexible ways for our colleagues to continue to provide local banking support, such as through pop-up presences.’
Barclays confirmed to Which? it has 50 pop-up sites in local spaces, such as community centres, libraries and business hubs. It says it will look at solutions in future that will be part of a ‘flexible sustainable model’, such as smart ATMS, which can do more than just dispense cash.
- Find out more: best and worst banks
Almost 500 bank branches will close in 2022
Barclays is not the only bank that is closing sites. So far this year 214 bank branches have closed, and a further 272 are scheduled to shut by the end of December.
Which? has been tracking these closures since 2015, and during this period half of the UK’s bank branch network has closed.
To see how these are split between the UK banks, the list below sets out how many branches each bank has already closed in 2022, how many more it plans to close by the end of the year.
- Barclays: 63 closed; 40 scheduled to close
- Danske Bank: Four branches scheduled to close
- HSBC: One closed; 69 scheduled to close
- Lloyds group (includes Lloyds Bank, Halifax and Bank of Scotland): 47 closed; 88 scheduled to close
- NatWest (including Royal Bank of Scotland sites): 31 closed; 24 scheduled to close
- Nationwide: four closed and three scheduled to close
- Metro Bank: Three scheduled to close
- TSB: 39 closed; 31 scheduled to close
- Ulster Bank (owned by the NatWest group): nine scheduled to close
- Virgin Money: 29 closed; one scheduled to close.
Santander said it would be maintaining its existing branch network by reducing its opening hours.
From 18 July, all but four Santander branch locations will shut at 3pm on weekdays, rather than 4.30pm. On Saturdays, 316 of its branches will shift from full-day to a half-day service, closing at 12.30pm.
- Find out more: is your local bank branch closing?
Why cash still matters
Cash is the second most frequently-used method of payment in the UK. Used by 5.4 million adults, it also provides a lifeline for vulnerable groups.
Recent research by Which? found cash can be a useful budgeting tool for households during the cost of living crisis, and people in remote areas may not have reliable broadband or mobile connectivity for digital payments.
It's also a vital lifeline for the elderly, who are more likely to visit bank branches in person.
What's being done to protect access to cash?
Here are some of the cash solutions that have been announced or put in place since our campaign began.
Legislation announced in Queen’s Speech
Earlier this month during the Queen’s Speech, the government pledged to bring forward a Financial Services and Markets Bill.
Part of this legislation includes making sure people across the UK can access their own cash with ease.
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) will be given new powers over the UK’s biggest banks and building societies to help protect the future of cash. These powers will allow the FCA to address cash access issues at both a national and local level.
However, separate rules will apply in Northern Ireland, as the banking market works differently.
The FCA will also be given oversight of coordinating bodies, with powers to access information from designated firms and organisations involved in the provision of cash.
- Find out more: access to cash legislation announced in Queen's Speech
Reviews by LINK to commission new cash services
The Cash Action Group (CAG) is a group which includes eight major banks, as well as the likes of Age UK and the Post Office.
In December, the CAG announced that any community facing the closure of a core cash service, such as a bank branch or ATM, will trigger an independent review by LINK - the UK's main ATM operator.
LINK will determine whether a new solution should be provided and will have the power to commission services, such as a shared banking hub or better Post Office services to meet the cash needs of the community as a whole - not just the customers of one bank or building society.
Out of all of the Barclays closures announced, no additional services have been recommended by LINK.
It’s unclear what will happen to CAG once government legislation comes into force. However, the government did say in light of the significant role that coordination bodies - such as LINK - play in the future of cash provision, it intends to designate such bodies for oversight by the FCA.
- Find out more: access to cash solutions - are they enough?
Post Office services
Since January 2020, customers of certain banks have been able to use Post Office branches to withdraw and deposit cash in their accounts and make balance queries. Most banks will also allow you to deposit cheques.
This service, described as a 'lifeline' by the Post Office, means that people can still access essential services, even if their local bank branch has shut.
The service will run until December 2025, after a new agreement was signed with 30 banks in February.
- Find out more: Post Office will offer banking services for 30 banks
Cashback without purchase
This initiative allows people to request cashback at the till in their local convenience store, without needing to make a purchase or pay a fee. It became possible last summer after a change in legislation.
A commercial scheme, operated by LINK, was rolled out at the end of 2021 and is available in 2,000 stores.
You can find out where this service is on offer by using LINK's cash locator on its website or mobile app. Just type in your location, and search for the orange symbols which state 'CT'.
- Find out more: cashback without purchase expands
source https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/barclays-to-close-103-branches-in-2022-akhJO3I4TLk1