Lloyds Banking Group to Close 136 Branches: The Digital Shift Reshapes High Street Banking

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Lloyds Banking Group has announced plans to close 136 branches across its brands, including Lloyds Bank, Halifax, and Bank of Scotland, between May 2025 and March 2026.

This significant reduction in physical banking locations is part of a broader trend affecting the UK banking sector, where more than 6,000 branches have shut down since 2015 due to changing consumer habits favoring digital banking.

The closures will see 61 Lloyds Bank branches, 61 Halifax branches, and 14 Bank of Scotland branches permanently closing their doors.

Analysts have expressed concern that these closures will disproportionately impact vulnerable and elderly customers who may rely on in-person banking services.

The decision comes amid ongoing pressures on banks to enhance cash access and comply with new regulations from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) aimed at protecting cash services.

Lloyds cited the shift towards mobile banking as a primary reason for the closures, noting that over 20 million customers are now using their mobile apps for everyday transactions.

This move follows a recent overhaul of the branch network that allowed customers from different brands under the Lloyds umbrella to use any location interchangeably.

The announcement has sparked discussions about the future of high street banking in Britain, with many calling for more robust measures to ensure that cash accessibility remains a priority as physical branches continue to diminish.

As part of its strategy to adapt to this changing landscape, Lloyds has pledged to support alternative banking hubs, although concerns remain about whether these measures will adequately meet customer needs.

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