MAPPED: The UK towns that have lost the most banks since 2022

The mapped analysis of UK bank closures underscores which towns have lost the most branches since 2022 and reveals a broader shift toward online services. Data show that more than 70% of UK adults now use online banking to check balances, transfer funds, and pay bills, a trend paired with rising costs of maintaining physical branches. Policy voices warn that older people and others with limited digital access are at risk as closures accelerate, with Age UK's Christopher Brooks calling the trend a serious problem and Silver Voices’ Dennis Reed arguing closures are destroying high streets. To mitigate these effects, banks have rolled out banking hubs shared by multiple institutions. There are roughly 300 hubs across the UK, with more planned; they offer in-person services via a 'community banker' for cash withdrawals, cheque deposits, and bill payments. Barclays has not closed a branch in two years and operates in 214 hubs nationwide, illustrating how large lenders lean on hub networks to preserve access as branch networks shrink.