MSE News: Which Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland branches are closing in 2026/27?

Rob5342

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81884267#Comment_81884267

They've made a song and dance about their branches, but their app is terrible and they don't seem to have any interest at all in modernising. It might work for the time being but if they aren't careful they will find themselves so far behind that they will never be able to catch up.

huw01

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81884536#Comment_81884536

i do wonder what lifespan these banking hubs will actually have. The one i pass regularly is often empty , closed on Saturdays and really doesnt offer much more than the account servicing available to post offices.

WillPS

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81884703#Comment_81884703

They've also improved the app considerably in that time too, but it's hard to argue they're a bit of a laggard.

There are still features Virgin Money have which they're missing, mobile cheque pay in for one. Hopefully these will be addressed ahead of their systems merging (whenever that ends up being).

eskbanker

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81884535#Comment_81884535

There's a difference between 'at a cost' and 'at a loss', so if you're effectively agreeing that it's the latter then it's hardly a tempting business opportunity?

TimeLord1

350 banking hubs are expected to be running by 2029 as replacements for closed services. I think my town now has two operating one inside the library and a church lol. Leave donations on exiting the building. 😂

Rob5342

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81884807#Comment_81884807

I can't see them lasting very long. They are a bit of a niche service with demand that is just going to keep dropping.

[Deleted User]

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81884922#Comment_81884922

As I originally stated, I believe there will be a small gap in the market.

Eco_Miser

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81885056#Comment_81885056

At whose cost? I originally read Theleak250 as meaning the bank would charge the customer for face to face service.

Eco_Miser

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81884086#Comment_81884086

In my nearest town there's a cluster of VM, Nationwide, Halifax and Skipton at one end of a road, with Santander and Newcastle on the next block, and Lloyds and NatWest still within half a mile. Barclays is on the next street.

I wonder how many will last to the end of the decade.

Further up the road, out of the town centre, are many restaurants and bars that used to be banks, still got the impressive facades.

eskbanker

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81885179#Comment_81885179

Interesting - I must admit that that interpretation (of some sort of fee-charging banking service) hadn't occurred to me, and would disagree that there's 'clearly' a market for such a thing, in the context of free consumer banking having become deeply ingrained in the UK.