HSBC is closing 82 UK branches this year

HSBC has announced it is closing 82 branches across the UK this year, as more customers turn to online banking.

The sites will begin closing their doors permanently from 23 April, starting with Edinburgh’s Princes Street branch.

Approximately three branches will then close each week until the end of September.

Shift to online banking

HSBC said the Covid-19 pandemic has prompted a greater number of customers to shift to online banking, although it insisted the closures were not entirely related to the ongoing lockdowns and restrictions.

Nine in 10 of all customers now contact the bank over the phone, internet or smartphone, while staff talk with more than 100,000 customers a week on social media, according to the bank.

The decision to close more than 80 of its sites is part of HSBC’s plans to become a market-leading digital bank and an overhaul of how remaining branches will operate.

The changes will see four distinct branch formats be introduced that “best suit customer needs”, including full service branches, cash service branches, counterless branches with self-service only and pop up branches.

Jackie Uhi, HSBC UK’s head of network, said: “This is a strategic direction that we need to take to have a branch network fit for the future.

“Making sure we have a sustainable branch network is essential to us, and decisions to close branches are not taken lightly.

“By ensuring we have the most suitable branch format in each specific local market that we serve, we will ensure that we are in good shape to meet the challenges ahead.”

Staff in branches facing closure are expected to be redeployed to other sites within 15 miles of their homes, the bank has said.

Of the 82 sites closing, 81 are located within a mile of a Post Office, two thirds are within five miles of another HSBC branch and nine in 10 are within 10 miles.

Which branches are closing?

Listed are all 82 HSBC branches that will close this year:

Closing 23 April

Edinburgh, Princess Street

Closing 7 May

Brighton, Ditchling Road
Hull, Merit House
Wednesbury
Sutton Coldfield, Four Oaks

Closing 14 May

Hull, Holderness Road
Pontyclun, Talbot Green
London, Fleet Street
London, Fenchurch Street

Closing 21 May

London, Old Broad Street
London, Charing Cross
Sheffield, Darnall
Oxford, Summertown

Closing 28 May

Leeds, Chapel Allerton
Cardiff, Rumney
Torquay, Strand
Staines

Closing 4 June

Plymouth, Forder House
Belper, King Street
Colchester
London, Whitechapel

Closing 11 June

London, Marylebone
London, Streatham Hill
Falkirk High Street
Fleet, Fleet Road

Closing 18 June

Reading, Woodley
Oxford, Headington
Swansea, Gorseinon
Wigston, Leicester Road

Closing 25 June

Tavistock, Bedford Square
Bristol, Nailsea
Leeds, Cross Gates
Yate, North Walk

Closing 2 July

London, Kingsbury Road
Cleckheaton, Bradford Road
Bexleyheath, Broadway
London, South Woodford

Closing 9 July

Birmingham, Erdington
Goole, Wesley Square
Congleton, High Street
Formby, Chapel Lane

Closing 16 July

Gillingham, Kent
Dunstable, West Street
Chorley, Market Street
Pontypridd, Taff Street

Closing 23 July

Felixstowe, Hamilton Road
Godalming, High Street
Prestatyn, High Street
London, Southgate

Closing 30 July

Tewkesbury, High Street
Maldon, High Street
Hatfield, Herts
Huntingdon, High Street

Closing 6 August

Stockport, Bramhall
London, Russell Square
Richmond, Market Place

Closing 13 August

Loughton, High Road
Rustington, The Street
Exmouth, Chapel Street

Closing 20 August

Bournemouth, Winton
Liverpool, University
Cleveleys, Victoria Square
Clevedon, Triangle

Closing 27 August

Northallerton, High Street
Walton-on-Thames, High Street
London, High Holborn

Closing 3 September

Barry, Holton Road
Aldershot, Wellington Street
Eastcote, Field End Road
London, Edgware Road

Closing 10 September

Ramsgate, High Street
Manchester, Chorlton-Cum-Hardy
Letchworth, Station Place
London, Hackney

HSBC is closing 82 UK branches this year - the list in full