Cities are hit hardest as banks close
LONDON, Manchester, Glasgow, Birmingham and Edinburgh have suffered the most bank branch closures over the last four years, data from consumer watchdog Which? shows.
The five cities between them have seen 624 branches either shut or be earmarked for closure from January 2015 to January 2019. Together, they account for 19 per cent of the 3,318 branches nationally that have been lost over that period.
London has lost the most branches with 323 gone, while the Greater Manchester area, which includes Salford, Bolton and Trafford, lost 135. Edinburgh in third place has seen 54 branches close, while Glasgow and Birmingham both lost 41.
In terms of regions, Scotland had the most closures with 403, followed by Wales on 235 then West Yorkshire on 103.
Banks have closed branches due to rising running costs and the increase in online and smartphone-based banking.
Gareth Shaw, head of money