How 3,300 bank branches were shut after crash

MORE than 3,300 bank branches have been shut since the financial crisis.

Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds and Natwest owner Royal Bank of Scotland had around 8,400 branches at the end of 2008, according to analysis by the Mail. But today only about 5,100 are still open after brutal cutbacks.

RBS has been the most prolific closer, slashing 1,423 branches or almost twothirds of its network.

The bank only survived due to a £46bn bailout from taxpayers, and is still 62.4pcowned by the state.

Lloyds has shut more than 600 branches and split off hundreds of others to form TSB.

Big British lenders have also been forced to dole out £71bn in fines for misconduct since the crisis struck.

Lloyds has suffered the heaviest penalties with at least £23.4bn in conduct-related costs and write-offs since 2008 – largely due to compensation for victims of the payment protection insurance scandal.

RBS is next on the list with costs of £20.6bn.