Bank branch to shut as NatWest announce nationwide closures

NATWEST has announced the closure of a high street bank.

The bank on Lee Lane, in the centre of Horwich will shut, although an exact closure date has yet to be confirmed.

It’s one of 23 branch closures across the country confirmed by NatWest, adding to dozens that have already been closed by other banking companies so far this month. A banking ‘hub’ is expected to be created in Horwich instead, with a Post Office-provided counter service.

The bank said it had chosen 21 sites in England to shut down and two in Wales. Sites including Frome, Bootle, Stroud and Blackpool will shut down between late April and the start of June, NatWest said. The timing of the closure of the branches in Horwich and Shorehamby-Sea have yet to be decided.

The bank said: “The way people bank with us has changed dramatically in recent years, with an increased demand for mobile and online services as customers benefit from a faster and easier way to bank.

“Closing a branch is a decision we take very seriously. We know it can affect people who are less confident with the alternatives we offer, and we’ll always work hard to guide you through the changes and find the best way to serve you from now on.”

The announcement comes just a week after Lloyds Banking Group said it would close 40 Halifax and Lloyds sites in England and Wales. As Lloyds, TSB and Barclays also announced closures earlier this month, data shows that 87 bank branch closures have been announced so far this year, less than a month in.

At the time Lloyds blamed footfall, which has been decreasing since the onset of online banking and the pandemic. It said the number of customers visiting the branches it plans to close had dropped by 60 per cent.