Major bank makes big change at 32 branches starting in DAYS
A MAJOR bank is to make a big change at 32 branches in just days, in a bid to help meet customer demand.
Metro Bank has announced it will extend Saturday opening hours from February 1 following calls from customers.
The move comes as most banks continue to reduce opening hours and close branches up and down the country.
Metro Bank’s selected 32 branches will extend their opening hours, which are currently 11am to 4pm, to the new timings of 9.30am to 5pm.
This will mean the branches offer the longest Saturday opening hours of any high street bank.
All other Metro Bank branches will remain open Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 5pm.
Kerry Reynolds, director of retail and business banking at Metro Bank, said: “Customers wanted more time on Saturday mornings and we have listened and responded.
“We have extended when we are open for our customers’ convenience and benefit giving them more time to meet and talk through any of their banking needs face-to-face with one of our colleagues.
“Personal and business customers can still bank with us outside these hours in the Metro Bank app, online banking and our telephone service.”
Braches due to extend opening hours
Metro Bank will be extending Saturday opening hours at the following branches:
- Aylesbury
- Bexleyheath
- Birmingham
- Borehamwood
- Brighton
- Bristol
- Broadmead
- Bromley
- Cardiff Newport Road
- Clapham Junction
- Ealing
- Edgware
- Harrow
- Hounslow
- Ilford
- Kensington High Street
- Kingston
- Leicester
- Liverpool
- Luton
- Manchester
- Milton Keynes Oakgrove
- Orpington
- Reading
- Romford
- Sheffield
- Slough
- Southend
- Southall
- Sutton
- Uxbridge
- Watford and Wood Green
Metro Bank has 75 branches across England and Wales and is opening new locations in Chester and Gateshead before June 2025.
The bank is bucking a trend that has seen 1,500 branch closures announced since 2022, according to data from ATM provider LINK.
Figures compiled by Which? showed that banks and building societies have closed 6,161 branches since January 2015 at a rate of around 53 each month.
And just last week NatWest announced it would close 53 bank branches in a fresh blow to the UK high street.
The firm has already reduced its portfolio of physical branches in recent years.
Last year Natwest Group closed 48 sites and in 2023 it shuttered nearly 20 branches.
NatWest has more than 19million customers and said over 3.5million use online banking.
In total more than 100 bank branches have been earmarked for closure in 2025.
Customers will see hubs from Lloyds, Halifax, and Bank of Scotland disappear.
Branches will close for good in towns and cities including Belfast, Leeds, Southampton, and Warwick.
The closures come as more customers use online banking to manage their finances.
The shift and a desire to reduce overheads have seem banks close down sites.
However, around 39% of people over 65 were found to not use online banking and are at “high risk of financial exclusion” as a result of closures.
All the bank branches closing in 2025
Bank of Scotland
- Banff, 29 Low Street AB45 1AU – May 8
- Bathgate, 50 Hopetoun Street EH48 4EU – June 30
- Callander, 42 Main Street FK17 8BD – March 20
- Cowdenbeath, 349-351 High Street KY4 9QJ – June 24
- Dunfermline, 1 Bothwell Street KY11 3AG – January 21
- Golspie, Main Street KW10 6RJ – February 4
- Kirkcaldy, Carberry Road KY1 3PA – January 21
- Kyle, Main Street IV40 8AB – January 27
- Langholm, High Street DG13 0JH – April 7
- Leven, 60 High Street KY8 4NA – May 7
- Linlithgow, Regent Centre Blackness Road EH49 7HU – June 23
- Montrose, 31 High Street DD10 8LT – March 10
- Newton Stewart, 37 Albert Street DG8 6EF – June 23
- North Berwick, 23 Westgate EH39 4AG – April 2
- Rothesay, 36-42 Montague Street PA20 0BT – June 30
- Wick, 18 Bridge Street KW1 4NG – June 25
Halifax
- Acomb, 73 York Road YO24 4LL – January 15
- Alnwick, 26 Bondgate Within NE66 1TD – January 15
- Belfast, Castle Court Royal Avenue BT1 1DD February 4
- Belfast, 17-18 Connswater Shopping Centre BT5 5LP – February 10
- Bitterne, 400-402 Bitterne Road SO18 5RS – June 9
- Bulwell, 8 Commercial Road NG6 8HA – January 21
- Burgess Hill, 11 Church Road RH15 9BB – March 4
- Camberley, 20/22 High Street GU15 3TG – March 11
- Chippenham, 49 Market Place SN15 3HU – April 15
- Didcot, 7 Orchard Street OX11 7LG March 10
- Eccles, 92-94 Church Street M30 0DA – January 7
- Gillingham, 97-101 High Street ME7 1BL – February 11
- Gosport, 60/61 High Street PO12 1DR – March 12
- Hailsham, 54/56 High Street BN27 1AX – March 26
- Hatfield, 17/17A Town Centre AL10 0JZ – January 20
- Kendal, 21/23 Highgate LA9 4DA – February 10
- Keynsham, 53 High Street BS31 1DS – January 14
- Leighton Buzzard, 14 High Street LU7 1DY – January 20
- Littlehampton, 68 High Street BN17 5EA – June 23
- Liverpool, 642 Prescot Road Old Swan L13 5YS – January 8
- London (West), 200 Edgware Road W2 2DW – January 6
- Longton, 24 Market Street ST3 1BG – January 8
- Malton, 8 Wheelgate YO17 7HP – April 8
- Monmouth, 7/11 Monnow Street NP25 3EF- September 16
- Morecambe, 6 Royalty Mall Arndale Centre LA4 5DS – September 15
- Newbury, 16 Northbrook Street RG14 1DJ – April 16
- Normanton, 49/51 High Street WF6 2AF – March 27
- North Shields, 100 Bedford Street NE29 6DD – January 28
- Northallerton, 91 High Street DL7 8QT – April 28
- Oswestry, 6 Bailey Street SY11 1PS – April 28
- Palmers Green, 256/258 Green Lanes N13 5TU – January 9
- Port Talbot, 58 Station Road SA13 1RD – January 29
- Runcorn, 35 Orchard Walk Halton Lea WA7 2BS – April 29
- Shirley, 177B Stratford Road B90 3AQ – January 9
- Stratford-upon-Avon, 28 Bridge Street CV37 6AD – January 22
- Sutton-in-Ashfield, 32 Low Street NG17 1DG – January 16
- Tamworth, 22 Market Street B79 7LR – April 29
- Thetford, 4/4A King Street IP24 2AP – September 17
- Tonbridge, 39 High Street TN9 1SQ – January 9
- Walton-on-Thames, 3 High Street KT12 1EA – January 27
- Wellington, Duke Street TF1 1BJ – January 7
- Wetherby, 49 Market Place LS22 6LN – May 13
- Whitby, 67 Baxtergate YO21 1HB – May 14
- Winchester, 129 High Street SO23 9AX – January 20
- Wisbech, 28 Market Place PE13 1DQ – January 22
- Witney, 29 High Street OX28 6XP – April 30
Lloyds
- Alcester, Stratford Road B49 5AX – June 25
- Alnwick, 24 Bondgate Within NE66 1TD – January 15
- Ashbourne, Compton DE6 1DY – June 24
- Baker Street, London NW1 6XB – January 6
- Beccles, Exchange Square NR34 9HH – May 6
- Bletchley, 87-89 Queensway MK2 2DW – March 3
- Blyth, 43 Waterloo Road NE24 1BW – March 4
- Brecon, 38 High Street LD3 7AR – February 11
- Brynmawr, 72 King Street NP23 4XR – February 18
- Chesham, 79 High Street HP5 1BT – February 24
- Chester Road Newquay, Chester Road TR7 2RU – March 31
- Cranbrook, Woodside High Street TN17 3DJ – February 11
- Dewsbury, 20 Market Place WF13 1DF – March 10
- Fakenham, 27 Norwich Street NR21 9AH – July 1
- Firth Park Sheffield, 15 Stubbin Lane S5 6QG – June 26
- Gorleston-on-Sea, 132-133 High Street NR31 6QU – January 20
- Hailsham, Market Street BN27 2AE – March 26
- Hitchin, 1 Bancroft SG5 1JQ – April 7
- Kendal, 11 Finkle Street LA9 4AG – February 10
- Kenilworth, 21 The Square CV8 1EE – April 2
- Kitts Green, 131 Lea Village B33 9SH – January 27
- Leeds Armley, 52 Town Street LS12 3AE – September 8
- Leeds Harehills, 391-393 Harehills Lane LS9 6AP – January 8
- Liskeard, The Parade PL14 6AW – February 25
- Macclesfield, 64-66 Mill Street SK11 6NH – January 28
- Market Harborough, 40 The Square LE16 7PA – March 27
- Matlock, 11 Causeway Lane DE4 3AR – May 7
- Monmouth, 18 Monnow Street NP25 3XH – September 16
- Newland Avenue Hull, 63-67 Newland Avenue HU5 3BG – January 14
- New Milton, 47 Station Road BH25 6HU – May 13
- Presteigne, 52 Hereford Street LD8 2AU – March 3
- Rugeley, 3 Upper Brook Street WS15 2DP – March 27
- Sherborne, 75 Cheap Street DT9 3BD – January 16
- Sidcup, 60 Sidcup High Street DA14 6EJ – March 26
- South Elmsall, 139-141 Barnsley Road WF9 2AA – January 16
- Southampton, 413 Bitterne Road Bitterne SO18 1DA – June 9
- Southampton, 77 Shirley High St Shirley SO15 3TX – May 7
- Spennymoor, 43 Cheapside DL16 6QF – June 26
- St Ives, 1 The Pavement PE27 5AE – February 24
- Stanley, 65 Front Street DH9 0SZ – June 26
- Stow-on-the-Wold, The Square Stow-on-the-Wold GL54 1BJ – February 17
- Surbiton, 1 Claremont Road KT6 4QS – March 4
- Swindon, 5 High Street SN1 3EN – February 3
- Thetford, 35 King Street IP24 2AX – September 17
- Tonypandy, 33 Dunraven Street CF40 1AL – June 30
- Wadebridge, 14 Molesworth Street PL27 7DE – July 1
- Warwick, 12 Swan Street CV34 4BJ – June 24
- Wetherby, 55 Market Place LS22 6LN – January 13
- Whitley Bay, 257 Whitley Road NE26 2SY – March 31
- Wisbech, 3 North Brink PE13 1JT – January 22
- Woodbridge, 8 The Thoroughfare IP12 1AF – June 25
TSB
- Amble 75 Queen Street NE65 0DA – May 15
- Aylsham Market Place NR11 6EH – May 15
- Bedlington 42/44 Front Street West NE22 5UB – May 15
- Bude 1 Belle Vue EX23 8JJ – May 15
- Crook 9 North Terrace DL15 9ES – May 15
- Tenbury Wells 71 Teme Street WR15 8AQ – May 15
- Whitchurch 1a Watergate Street SY13 1DR – May 15
NatWest
- Accrington – June 5
- Alfreton – June 2
- Beverley – June 25
- Bishop Auckland – April 29
- Blackburn, Audley, Copy Nook – May 12
- Bridlington – June 11
- Cannock – May 12
- Cleveleys – April 28
- Derby, Allenton – May 13
- Dewsbury – April 28
- Ellesmere Port – June 4
- Failsworth, Hollinwood, Oldham Road – May 7
- Farnworth – May 15
- Garstang – June 26
- Goole – May 14
- Keighley – June 16
- Leeds, Chapel Allerton, Harrogate Road – April 30
- Leeds, Cross Gates – June 10
- Leek – June 16
- Leyland, Golden Hill, Chapel Brow – May 15
- Liverpool, Walton Vale – May 14
- Long Eaton – May 29
- Louth – May 28
- Manchester – June 11
- Mansfield – June 26
- Market Drayton – at a date to be confirmed by the bank
- Mexborough – June 3
- Middleton – April 30
- Morley – May 8
- Nantwich – June 19
- Newark-on-Trent – June 17
- Newcastle upon Tyne, West Denton – May 1
- Nottingham, Sherwood, Hucknall Road – May 21
- Nottingham, West Bridgford – June 24
- Rawtenstall – May 29
- Rochdale – June 10
- Salford, Trafford Park, Third Avenue – May 20
- Sheffield, Ecclesall Road – May 7
- St Annes On Sea – June 24
- Stafford – June 25
- Stockport, Hazel Grove – June 19
- Stockport, Heaton Moor – June 3
- Stockton-on-Tees – June 4
- Stoke-on-Trent, Longton – June 5
- Urmston – May 13
- Uttoxeter – June 2
- Wallasey – May 21
- Washington – June 17
- Widnes – May 8
- Willerby – April 29
- Wilmslow – May 20
- Windermere – May 1
- Worksop – June 18
What to do if your local bank branch closes
New rules from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) mean banks and building societies that shut branches have to make sure customers can still get cash.
When they make changes, they need to check whether local communities will be left without important cash services, like branches or ATMs, and fix any significant gaps.
Residents and community groups can also ask for a review of cash-access gaps, and the providers have to respond.
If big gaps are found, banks and building societies need to offer reasonable alternatives, like keeping branches or ATMs open until new ones are set up.
Solutions can include setting up banking hubs, new ATMs, or using Post Office facilities to keep cash services going.
The vast majority of banking customers are moving online and don’t need a physical branch as much as before.
But any closures can be an issue for others, particularly elderly people in rural areas who don’t have access to the internet.
However, if your local branch is set to close, or has recently, you have some options.
You can carry out most basic banking tasks at your nearest Post Office.
You won’t be able to apply for a loan or open a new bank account at once though.
You can find your nearest Post Office branch by using the locator tool on its website.
Plus, hundreds more banking hubs are set to open to replace lost banking services following years of widespread branch closures.
Banking hubs offer a solution by allowing staff from multiple banks to share the same space, filling the gaps that branch closures left.
Banking hubs typically feature a counter service operated by the Post Office as standard, enabling customers to conduct routine banking transactions conveniently.
Other banks use buildings such as village halls or libraries to offer mobile banking services.
It’s worth contacting your bank to see what services they have available, and when they might next be in your area.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.
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