NatWest, RBS & Ulster branch closures for 2026

So far, there have been 32 branch closures announced in 2026 — find out your options if yours will close

So far, NatWest has announced 32 branch closures this year. We’ve had no closures announced by RBS and Ulster this year yet. Find out which ones are affected and what to do if your local bank is set to close.

When are the banks closing?

In the latest announcement, 28 NatWest branches were revealed to be closing in 2025, as well as 17 RBS branches. There weren’t any Ulster branches affected this time.

Natwest branch closures

What to do if your branch is closing

For most of us, it probably means very little. When did you last need to use a branch? If you aren’t fussed about losing access to a branch’s facilities you don’t have to do anything. And if you only tend to need pay in or withdraw cash then you’ll be able to use a Post Office.

But for those who regularly visit a branch for more than this (or don’t have a Post Office nearby), branch closures can make a huge difference.

One solution is to open a new account with a bank that still has a local branch near you. You don’t have to switch to this new bank (which would mean the closure of your Natwest 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. It’s also worth checking if you can get an enticing switching bonus.

But if you do switch you’ll lose access to benefits you get with these banks, such as if you have a rewards account or regular saver.

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.

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, and it’s a good idea to have more than one bank account. You never know what will happen with online and app banking, and having the option to talk to someone can make things easier.

The best bank switch bonuses

Check out our list of all the bank switch offers you can get when opening a new current account

Natwest branches closures 2025

You can read a fact sheet for each branch to see why each one is closing.

January 2026 announcement

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RBS branch closures 2026

There haven’t been any RBS branch closure announcements in 2026, yet.

Ulster branch closures 2025

There haven’t been any Ulster branch closure announcements in 2026, just yet.

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