High street banks like NatWest, Lloyds, and others are planning to close 162 branches in the coming months. Specifically, NatWest will shut down 52 branches, Halifax 42, Lloyds 40, Santander 19, and Bank of Scotland 9. The increasing trend of online banking has been a major factor in the closure of many physical branches. Concerns have been raised by charities regarding the impact on vulnerable individuals who may lose access to essential banking services.

Data from Which? reveals that a significant number of banks and building societies have closed 6,522 branches since January 2015, averaging 53 closures every month. For those affected by branch closures, basic cash and counter services can still be accessed at the nearest Post Office. Some banks are also introducing alternative services like pop-up branches or mobile vans, with schedules available online for reference.

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