Lloyds Banking Group has announced plans to close a further 79 bank branches over the next year as lenders continue to reduce their presence on Britain’s high streets.
The latest closures will affect 48 Halifax branches and 31 Lloyds Bank locations across the UK.
The move represents another significant reduction in the group’s branch network and will affect communities in dozens of towns and cities.
Lloyds Banking Group, which owns both the Lloyds Bank and Halifax brands, said the changes reflect the increasing number of customers choosing to bank online and through mobile apps.
Lloyds Bank branch closures: Banking giant confirms 79 more sites will shut across UK
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GETTYThe North West and South East will be the hardest-hit regions, with each losing 12 branches.
London is set to lose 10 branches under the latest programme of closures.
The announcement follows a separate decision in February when Lloyds Banking Group confirmed plans to close a further 95 branches.
Once the newly announced closures have been completed, the group will operate 531 branches across Britain.
Banks are continuing to scale back their physical networks as customer demand for digital services grows, with almost 250 branches already scheduled to close in 2026 before the latest announcement.
Several major lenders have confirmed further reductions.
Santander plans to shut 54 branches this year, while NatWest has announced 35 closures.
A spokesman for Lloyds Banking Group said customers would still have access to a wide range of alternative services.
Santander plans bank branch closures this year
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GETTY“With access to one of the biggest branch networks in the UK, alongside local banking options like our Community Bankers, the Post Office, PayPoint, plus our leading apps and 24/7 messaging service, we offer our customers more choice and convenience than ever before,” they said.
The group highlighted Post Office counters, PayPoint locations, mobile banking services and online support as key parts of its offering.
Community Bankers will continue to operate in areas affected by closures.
However, the Civil Service Pensioners’ Alliance warned that older customers who rely on face‑to‑face banking could be disproportionately affected.
The organisation said many older people still prefer to manage their finances in person and may face additional challenges as local branches disappear.
The concerns come amid a wider debate about access to banking services as lenders continue to withdraw from the high street.
Branch closures have accelerated in recent years as customers increasingly choose digital alternatives, and hundreds more locations are expected to disappear during 2026.
The latest announcement adds to the ongoing transformation of the UK’s banking landscape as major lenders adapt their operations to changing customer behaviour.