**NatWest Announces Further Wave of Branch Closures, With Nine to Shut in Wales**
NatWest has revealed plans to close 55 more branches across the United Kingdom, dealing another blow to traditional high street banking. Of the latest closures, nine are situated in Wales, a region already impacted by the wider trend of bank branch reductions. This decision forms part of NatWest’s ongoing shift towards digital banking and follows an earlier announcement confirming the closure of 54 further sites in 2025.
The bank outlined that this new phase of closures includes 52 brick-and-mortar branches, supplemented by the withdrawal of three mobile banking vans. Welsh communities set to lose local branches include Cardiff, Cwmbran, Llangefni, Mold, Neath, Prestatyn, Abergele, and Welshpool. The bank has cited diminishing footfall in these locations and a consistent rise in online banking usage as key factors in their decision.
According to consumer advocacy group Which?, NatWest Group — encompassing not only NatWest but also the Royal Bank of Scotland and Ulster Bank — has shuttered 1,455 branches in the UK since 2015. Recent years have seen unrelenting reductions, with dozens of branches disappearing from high streets each year. In 2024, a total of 48 branches were closed, and almost 20 locations were lost in 2023.
A spokesperson for NatWest highlighted that more than 80% of active current account holders now prefer to use digital services, with over 97% of retail accounts opened digitally. “Our customers appreciate the speed and convenience of digital banking for everyday transactions,” the spokesperson commented. However, they also stressed that for significant and complex decisions, customers still value expert guidance from in-person staff.
Despite the widespread move to online platforms, NatWest maintains that its physical network remains a vital element of its offering. The bank pledged significant investment into its remaining estate, promising to spend over £20 million during 2025. Investment plans include upgrades to existing branches, efforts to reduce environmental impact, and support for community initiatives like banking hubs and Post Office partnerships. NatWest said it would also run ‘Community Pop-Ups’ — temporary support stations in affected areas for up to twelve weeks — to assist customers during the transition.
The closure of nine Welsh branches, specifically, signals continued challenges in rural and suburban areas, where residents may have limited digital access. The affected Welsh sites and their respective closure dates are as follows:
– Canton, Cardiff: 16 September 2025
– Cwmbran: 1 September 2025
– Llangefni: 4 September 2025
– Llanishen, Cardiff: 11 September 2025
– Mold: 21 October 2025
– Neath: 13 October 2025
– Prestatyn: 29 September 2025
– Abergele: 29 September 2025
– Welshpool: 29 September 2025
NatWest has given assurances that it is “significantly investing in refreshing our network”, but customer groups and local representatives continue to express concern about the potential for vulnerable and older customers to be left behind. The Post Office and shared Banking Hubs are expected to shoulder increased demand as high street branches vanish.
Observers note a persistent theme: banking is increasingly a digital-first industry, and the landscape of financial services is being reshaped at speed. While the pace of change divides opinion, NatWest’s approach is emblematic of the wider sector and its drive towards digital transformation.
As the closure programme moves ahead, the strength of community support structures and digital literacy initiatives will be tested. For many, the disappearance of familiar bank branches is much more than an inconvenience — it marks a significant shift in how communities access essential financial services.