A MAJOR high street bank is closing more high street branches permanently next week, with three other sites set to lose their counter service.
Santander will shut seven branches between Monday, 11 August, and Thursday, 17 August.
This is part of a larger restructuring plan, which includes closing a total of 95 branches transforming 18 others into “counter-free” service locations.
On June 30, it also reduced operating hours by half at 36 of its high street branches.
So far, Santander has closed 69 branches as part of this plan.
The next round of closures will begin on Monday, August 11, with three branches shutting in Brixton, Formby, and Sidcup.
On Tuesday, August 12, the Edgware Road branch in London will close, followed by the Willerby branch in North Humberside on Wednesday, August 13.
Finally, the Plympton branch in Devon will permanently shut its doors on Thursday, August 14.
Looking ahead, Santander has also announced that its Surrey Quays branch will close for good on November 10.
An additional 18 branches are scheduled to close before the end of the year, although the exact dates for these closures have not yet been announced.
Meanwhile, Santander will remove counter services at three more locations next week.
From Monday, August 11, counter services will no longer be available at its branches in Camberley, Orpington, and Rotherham.
This means customers will no longer be able to deposit or withdraw coins or large amounts of cash at these locations.
The service is popular with customers who use cash and small businesses that deposit their earnings at the end of the day.
Instead of speaking to staff at a counter, customers will be directed by floor staff to use ATMs and payment machines, making most transactions digital.
Santander has already removed counters from 15 of its branches this year.
Customers needing to deposit or withdraw coins will have to visit another full-service Santander branch or use one of the 11,684 Post Offices.
Cash withdrawals over £500 a day will also need to be made elsewhere.
This is because cash withdrawals will now be handled through in-branch ATMs rather than in person at a counter.
Customers can use their debit card to withdraw more cash at the Post Office, with a limit of £10,000, depending on the funds available at the branch.
For withdrawals over £5,000, there is a £10 flat fee.
Withdrawals over £2,000 incur a charge of 50p per £100, while amounts above £5,000 are charged at 35p per £100.
A spokesperson for Santander UK, said: “As customer behaviour changes, we are ensuring that our branches remain fit for the future.
“Our new combination of full-service branches, alongside Work Cafés, counter-free branches and reduced hours branches, aims to provide the right balance between digital banking and face-to-face money management and guidance.
“As a business, we must move with customers and balance our investment across all the places where we interact with customers, to deliver the very best for them now and in the future.”
What you can do if your local bank is set to close
There are still a number of ways people can access basic banking services without having to venture to another town with a branch.
You can use one of the Post Office’s 11,684 branches to perform basic banking tasks — but not to open new bank accounts or take personal loans and mortgages.
You can find your nearest Post Office branch by visiting postoffice.co.uk/branch-finder.
Meanwhile, many banks offer a mobile banking service – where they bring a bus to your area offering services you can usually get at a physical branch.
Other banks use buildings such as village halls or libraries to offer mobile banking services.
It’s worth contacting your bank to see what mobile services they have available, and when they might next be in your area.
New super ATMs are being rolled out across the UK where branch closures have left residents unable to access essential banking services.
These ATMs will allow customers to withdraw funds, access their balance, change PIN numbers and deposit cash.
Bank of Scotland, Barclays, Halifax, Lloyds, NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland and Ulster Bank are already signed up to allow deposits, at the super ATMs.
Banking hubs are also being opened across the UK with 250 set to be available by the end of 2025.
These sites typically feature a counter service operated by the Post Office as standard, enabling customers to conduct routine banking transactions conveniently.
Each hub also has a private area where customers can consult with staff representing their banks for more complex matters.
What services do banking hubs offer?
BANKING hubs offer a range of services to bridge the gap left by the closure of local branches.
Operated by the Post Office, these hubs allow customers to perform routine transactions such as deposits, withdrawals, and balance enquiries.
Each hub also features private booths where customers can discuss more complex banking matters with staff from their respective banks.
Staff from different banks are available on a rotational basis, ensuring that customers have access to a wide range of banking services throughout the week.
Additionally, customers can receive advice and support on various financial products and services, including loans, mortgages, and savings accounts.
