Nationwide pledges all 696 branches will stay open until at least 2030

Nationwide has restated its promise to keep all 696 of its branches open on UK high streets until at least 2030. That covers 605 Nationwide branches and 91 Virgin Money branches. The building society took on the Virgin Money sites when it bought the bank in 2024, and the promise applies to both brands. According to the Daily Express, this means customers should not face a Nationwide or Virgin Money branch closure for the next four years.

The pledge stands out because much of the high street is going the other way. The Express reports that more than 200 branches are closing across the UK this year, with Lloyds, Halifax, Bank of Scotland, NatWest and Santander among the banks cutting back. That gap matters to anyone who would still rather sort out their money at a counter than through an app.

What Nationwide has promised and why

Nationwide said that, as of June 4, it had more branches than any other banking provider on the UK high street. The society says many vulnerable and older customers still depend on face-to-face help, and it calls its branches a "valued part of the UK's high streets". The pledge also covers every Virgin Money branch, including those close to a Nationwide branch. Overlap like that is often what leads to closures after a takeover.

Mandy Beech, Nationwide's Director of Retail Services, said earlier this year that "as banks continue to close their doors and step back from the high street, Nationwide will become the UK's largest group branch network". She said customers valued branches and that usage was rising, adding that the society was "proud to stand by our commitment to keep every one of our branches open until 2030". This is a company promise rather than a legal duty, and the reports do not say what would happen if the society's circumstances changed.

Nationwide backs its case with its own figures. It said a third (33%) of its current accounts and about a fifth (22%) of its savings accounts were opened in branch in the six months to the end of September 2025, and that volumes were up on a year earlier. Younger people use branches too, according to the society. It said more than one in 10 of its new student accounts were opened in branch in the new academic year.

Who gains most when the last bank in town stays

The people likely to gain most live in towns where Nationwide is now the only bank left. The society said account openings have risen most where it is the "last branch in town". It added that since January 2025 another 33 of its branches have become the last one in their town after other banks closed theirs. If you rely on paying in cash, checking balances in person or getting a problem fixed face to face, a guaranteed counter nearby can spare you a long trip to the next town.

Nationwide says its branches are used for more than banking. It hosts dementia clinics with Dementia UK's specialist admiral nurses and runs digital lessons to help people feel more confident with technology. It also provides "safe spaces" to support victim-survivors of domestic abuse.

Customers of banks that are shrinking their networks get no such guarantee. The Express reports that Lloyds Banking Group has announced 79 new branch closures this year, with 74 due to shut in 2026 and five in 2027.

Key numbers

• 696: the total number of Nationwide and Virgin Money branches covered by the pledge.
• 605: the branches trading under the Nationwide name.
• 91: the Virgin Money branches added when Nationwide bought the bank in 2024.
• 2030: the year every branch is promised to stay open until, at the very least.
• 33: the Nationwide branches that have become the last bank in their town since January 2025.
• 22%: the share of Nationwide savings accounts opened in branch in the six months to the end of September 2025.
• 79: the new branch closures Lloyds Banking Group has announced this year.

What happens next for Nationwide branches

Nothing changes for Nationwide or Virgin Money customers right now. The pledge simply means the current network is meant to stay as it is until at least 2030. Nationwide has not published any plans for its branches after that date, so the promise tells customers nothing about the longer term.

Elsewhere, the closures go on. The Express reports that Lloyds, Halifax, Bank of Scotland, NatWest and Santander are all closing branches this year, and some of the Lloyds Banking Group closures are not due until 2027. If you bank with one of those groups, expect more announcements to come.

What you can do now

If your own bank is closing its local branch, find out whether there is a Nationwide or Virgin Money branch near you before deciding how you will bank in future. The Daily Express has published the full list of all 696 branches covered by the pledge. Before moving any accounts, compare what each provider offers in branch, online and by phone, and ask branch staff directly which services they offer at the counter.

If you or an older relative depend on in-person help, ask at the branch about the extra services Nationwide says it offers, such as digital lessons to build confidence with online banking. Anyone affected by domestic abuse can ask about the "safe spaces" the society says its branches provide.

If your current bank writes to say your branch is closing, make a note of the closing date and plan ahead. That gives you time to sort out cash, cheques and any regular payments before the doors shut.

Your questions answered

Does the promise cover Virgin Money branches as well?

Yes. Nationwide said its commitment to keep branches open until at least 2030 applies to all 91 Virgin Money branches. That includes branches close to a Nationwide branch, which might otherwise have been the first to go.

Are other banks still closing branches?

Yes. The Daily Express reports that more than 200 branches are closing across the UK this year, including Lloyds, Halifax, Bank of Scotland, NatWest and Santander sites. It says Lloyds Banking Group alone has announced 79 new closures, with 74 due in 2026 and five in 2027.

Why is Nationwide keeping branches when others shut them?

Nationwide says branches are valued by its customers and that usage is rising, especially among vulnerable and older people who need face-to-face help. It also says branches still bring in business, with a third (33%) of its current accounts opened in branch in the six months to the end of September 2025.