Why Brits can no longer bank on the banks

May 20, 2026 - PRLog -- Individuals and SMEs cannot bank on High Street banks being there in the future, warns the home delivery expert Parcelhero. A total of 52 branch closures are slated for this month alone, meaning the Government's newly launched 'Access to Banking Services' review is urgently needed. However, Parcelhero fears Britain's town centre banks have become another High Street sector threatened with near-extinction because of the growth of internet services.

Parcelhero's Head of Consumer Research, David Jinks M.I.L.T., says: 'The threat to in-person banking is escalating by the week. Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland – all part of the Lloyds Banking Group – are set to shut at least 168 bank branches by the end of next year.

'Meanwhile, 52 bank branches across a variety of banking groups will close this month alone. Santander will shutter 27 locations, while NatWest will close down 15, Lloyds Bank eight and Halifax two.

'In the light of this rapid decline, the Government has pledged to look into the continuing reduction of in-person banking and its new "Access to Banking Services" review was launched last week. Shockingly, the review acknowledges that "there are currently no existing protections for the provision of access to in-person banking services."

'The review will look at the state of banking through what it calls a "customer needs lens". It will primarily focus on individuals using retail banking services, but will also include organisations such as small businesses, non-profit and community groups. However, the review is not set to conclude until October, and that could be too late given the current haemorrhaging of local banking facilities.

'Parcelhero has long been concerned about the impact of bank branch closures on small businesses and individuals. In 2016, we published our influential report "2030: The Death of the High Street".  It predicted the closure of 100,000 stores by 2030, a finding discussed in Parliament.

'In that report we noted: "9,000 bank and building society branches have been closed between 1989 and 2016 – and more closures are on their way." Unfortunately, we weren't wrong.

'Now our sequel report, "2030: The High Street Fights Back?" has been released. A decade on from the first report, it reveals around 6,660 bank branches closed between 2016 and 2025, creating 41 "banking deserts" – areas where at least one branch shut for every 10,000 residents.

'Of course, banks are just one of the sectors under severe threat from the ongoing demise of our town centres. The High Street may not have reached a dead end by 2030 but, in this new age of retail, it will have arrived at its biggest crossroads. You can read and download our new report at https://newsroom.parcelhero.com/the-high-street-fights-back-final.pdf