Find out which ones are going and your options if affected.
It was only a matter of time before the first new bank closures of 2022 were announced. This time it’s the turn of Natwest and RBS bank. Here’s what you need to know.
When are the banks closing?
A total of 32 branches will close between May and June 2022. The split is 21 Natwest and 11 RBS.
There will also be closures of 70 TSB branches and 41 Lloyds and Halifax bases announced last year, and no doubt more to come.
What to do if your branch is closing
For most of us it probably means very little. When did you actually last need to use a branch? If you aren’t at all fussed about losing access to a branch’s facilities you don’t have to do anything (though more in a moment about why you could). And if you need to just pay in or withdraw cash then you’ll be able to use a Post Office.
But for those who do regularly visit a branch for more than this (or don’t have a Post Office nearby) it could make a huge difference.
The obvious solution is to open up a new account at a bank that does have a local branch near you. You don’t have to switch to this new bank (which would mean the closure of your Natwest or RBS account) if you don’t want to, but doing so does have some advantages.
All your Direct Debits, standing orders and payments into your account will be moved over for you, so you won’t need to change anything manually. And right now you could get a switching bonus of up to £150.
But if you do switch you’ll lose access to benefits you get with these banks. The main perks are:
- Natest or RBS Reward Account – £3 a month profit (two lots of £2 if you have two Direct Debits, £1 for checking the app minus a £2 monthly fee) (account review)
- Digital Regular Saver – 3.02% AER savings on a total balance of £1,000 (capped at £50 a month deposit) (account review)
- Fee free use of the Natwest / RBS Reward Credit Card
Unless you’re getting a decent switching bonus, I’d keep hold of the Reward account if you have it, just to keep the free cash. Instead I’d open up a new account without switching for whichever alternative bank you have nearby (here’s a full list of the different perks they offer).
And even if you aren’t bothered about your local branch closing, I’d still open another locally. I think it’s always handy to have physical access to a bank. You never quite know what will happen with online and app banking, and having the option to talk to someone can make things easier.
Which Natwest branches are closing?
- Billericay
- Borehamwood
- Bulwell & Hucknall
- Chelsea
- Derby Crompton House
- Gillingham Kent
- Gosforth
- Headingley
- Hull University
- Leatherhead
- Leeds Victoria
- Manchester Spinningfields Square
- Marlow
- Nottingham City
- Piccadilly & New Bond Street
- Ruislip
- South Woodford
- Swanley Kent
- Tavistock Square
- Twickenham
- Windsor & Eton
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Which RBS branches are closing?
- Bishopsgate
- Cardiff City
- Chelmsford
- Cheltenham
- Harrow
- Leeds Park Row
- Leicester Market Street
- London Child & Co
- Nottingham City Office
- Southampton High Street
- Wilmslow
For me it’s a total pain. I have to travel 10 miles into town now to visit my nearest branch. It takes about an hour in total instead of 10 minutes when our local branch (NatWest) existed. But I suppose they have to save money somehow to pay their city employees who no doubt deserve their 6 figure salaries (deep irony).
I do miss the bank branches and their ornate buildings that once lined our Highstreets. But I can understand why the Banks are shutting them all down. Most people including myself do all their banking on line. Even the last remaining reason to visit the branch (to deposit a cheque) has now ben superseded by photographing the cheque and depositing online. But there are still plenty of people who don’t do online banking and need to access to a bank branch. I do feel that the banks could have established a shared facility in many towns rather than just leaving us high and dry. In my nearby town of Battle in East Sussex we used to have Barclays, HSBC, NatWest and Lloyds. Now all of then have gone leaving this popular market town with no banks or cash machines. Certainly a shared facility could have been agreed upon between the four banks who could have then shared the cost. It will be interesting to see how Metro bank with its conventional bank building approach does over the next few years.