NatWest has announced plans to close 55 more branches across the UK this year, including 52 traditional high street locations and three mobile banking vans, as the banking giant continues its shift towards digital services.

The closures, which include branches in Bridgwater, Chippenham, Cirencester, Trowbridge and other locations across England and Wales, are scheduled to take place between September and October 2025.

Conservative member of parliament for Bridgwater Ashley Fox said he was "deeply disappointed" by NatWest's decision to close the Somerset town's branch on 27 October. He warned the move "risks excluding some of our most vulnerable residents" and would impact local high street footfall.

"Especially those who rely on in‑branch support to manage their finances with confidence," Fox added. "It will also be a hit to our town centre, where the loss of regular footfall will add further strain to local high street businesses."

Local customers have expressed frustration with the closures, with some residents voicing concerns about the impact on vulnerable customers who rely on in-person banking services.

NatWest defended the closures, stating that over 80 per cent of active current account holders now use digital services and over 97 per cent of retail accounts are opened online. The bank said counter transactions at the Bridgwater branch had dropped by nearly 65 per cent over the past five years.

A NatWest spokesperson said: "Our customers appreciate the speed and convenience of digital banking for everyday transactions, and often, when it comes to making bigger, more complex decisions they value speaking to our skilled and experienced colleagues."

The spokesperson added: "Like any business, we strive to meet our customers' changing needs and expectations and we've been responding to the industry wide shift towards digital services by investing to broaden what customers can do themselves and to offer them greater personalisation. While we are increasingly engaging our customers digitally, our branch network remains important to us."

The bank acknowledged the closures were "disappointing" but said it had "carefully considered how best to invest to make sure we have a sustainable network for the future". It committed to investing over £20 million in its UK network in 2025 to improve customer service and enhance branch facilities.

The spokesperson said: "We're committed to ensuring the transition of UK banking services on to digital platforms is managed compassionately and we recognise that some people still need help to adapt, particularly our vulnerable customers." The bank said it made over 200,000 calls last year to support customers with the digital transition.

NatWest said it would provide community pop-ups in selected locations and proactively contact customers who may need additional support during the transition to digital banking.

The branch closures come as the UK government completed its exit from NatWest after nearly 17 years of public ownership. The Treasury sold its final shares in the banking group on 30 May, ending state intervention that began with a £45.5 billion bailout during the 2008 financial crisis.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the privatisation "turns the page on a significant chapter in this country's history", though taxpayers made a £10.5 billion loss on the bailout overall. The bank, which rebranded from Royal Bank of Scotland to NatWest in 2020, has transformed into a domestic-focused lender with almost all its income now generated in the UK.

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