Nationwide is on track to become the UK’s largest branch network, as other banks continue to scale back their presence on the high street.
From 4 June, Britain’s biggest Building Society will have more branches than any other banking provider on the high street, with a total of 696, comprising 605 Nationwide and 91 Virgin Money branches.
While other high street banks are progressing planned branch closures in the coming weeks, with more than 80 banks due to close their doors in June alone and over 240 set to have been axed by the end of the year, Nationwide remains committed to maintaining its presence across communities.
In November, Britain’s biggest building society promised to keep every single one of its branches open until at least 2030, including in locations where Nationwide and Virgin Money branches are close by.
Nationwide data shows continued demand for in-person banking, with customers valuing having a choice around how they bank, whether that’s in branch, online or over the phone.
- Nationwide supported 6.7m unique branch users in 2025 - a 5.1% increase compared to 2024 and the highest number of visitors post-pandemic1.
- More than half (57%)2 of the market's branch-based product openings were made with Nationwide, with the building society’s in-branch current account sales up 21%3.
- Today, Nationwide is the last branch in town in 155 locations across the UK – a number that will continue to grow amid further closures.
- In locations that recently became last branch in town, ATM usage increased by 25% last year, including a 96% rise among non-Nationwide customers4.
- Where Nationwide became last branch in town in 2025, current account openings rose by 29% year-on-year5.
Mandy Beech, Nationwide’s Director of Retail Services, said: “As banks continue to close their doors and step back from the high street, Nationwide will become the UK’s largest group branch network. This is a major milestone for us and reflects our belief in the value of in-person banking and the reassurance it offers our members and the communities we support. Our data shows branches are very much valued by our customers, with usage rising, and as part of our investment in giving customers real choice in how they bank – whether online, in branch or on the phone - we’re proud to stand by our commitment to keep every one of our branches open until 2030.”
Nationwide’s branch commitment goes beyond access to financial services, with Nationwide’s social impact programme, Fairer Futures, hosting dementia clinics via Dementia UK’s specialist Admiral Nurses across 250 Nationwide and Virgin Money branches. More than 5,700 appointments have been booked since the initiative launched in 2024, demonstrating the strong demand for in-person support within local communities.
Nationwide also uses its branches for Digital Lessons to help boost people’s confidence with using technology, and many of them provide ‘Safe Spaces’ for domestic abuse support. Customers are able to visit a branch to check suspicious payments via Nationwide’s Scam Checker.
Virgin Money branches are helping close the digital divide by offering free mobile data through the National Databank. Anyone facing data poverty - customer or not - can walk in and pick up a SIM card loaded with 25GB of data each month, for a full year.
For more information, visit Nationwide’s Branch Promise – www.nationwide.co.uk/stayingput.
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