Nationwide: building society will keep all UK bank branches open until at least 2030 - including Virgin Money
The bank is keeping its branches at the heart of communities 🏦
- Nationwide has pledged to keep all 696 of its branches, including Virgin Money locations, open until at least 2030
- The move comes as many UK banks continue to close branches, pushing customers toward online services
- Branches remain popular with both older customers and younger account holders, including students
- Some branches have become the ‘last bank in town,’ seeing a rise in account openings
- Nationwide branches also serve as community hubs, hosting support clinics, digital lessons, and safe spaces
A major UK high street banking chain has pledged to keep every one of its branches open until at least 2030.
Nationwide’s move covers all 696 locations across the UK (including those from its newly acquired Virgin Money network) and extends the society’s existing “branch promise” by another two years.
It’s a bold commitment at a time when banks across the country continue to shutter local branches, pushing customers towards online banking and shared “banking hubs.”
While many closures have been justified as digital demand rises, Nationwide says in-person banking remains vital for millions, and not just older customers.
The mutual revealed that more than one in 10 new student accounts were opened in-branch this autumn, showing younger people still value face-to-face service.
Dame Debbie Crosbie, group chief executive at Nationwide, said: “Branches are important to our customers, to communities and to the health of our high streets.
“That’s why Nationwide will continue to keep branches open in addition to our investment in online and telephone channels.”
Nationwide already operates the UK’s largest single-brand network, with 605 branches.
When combined with Virgin Money’s 91, it now boasts 696 locations, a figure that will remain unchanged for at least the next five years, even where branches are close together.
The society said it has seen a surge in account openings in towns where it’s now the “last branch standing,” and since January, 33 more Nationwide locations have become the only remaining bank branch in their area.
Around a third of all new current accounts and a fifth of savings accounts were opened in-branch in the six months to September, showing steady growth year-on-year.
Beyond everyday banking, Nationwide’s branches have become community hubs, hosting dementia support clinics, digital confidence sessions, and “safe spaces” for domestic abuse survivors, a sign that the humble high street branch can still serve a role beyond finance.