UK high street bank giant to open new branches – had shut 800 | UK | News
A major banking giant is planning to bring its branches back to the high street. It had previously closed nearly 800 branches in the last few years. The news comes as other banks such as NatWest, Halifax and Lloyds are planning a series of closures over the remainder of 2026. Vim Maru, CEO of Barclays UK, explained that he doesn’t want customers to get bogged down by chatbots when trying to manage their money.
he said Times Many Barclays customers value physical presence and face-to-face services. Currently, Barclays has 206 branches open across the country; This is a very small number compared to ten years ago. Mr Maru, which took over the UK operation in 2024, has paused further bank branch closures. He said he wants the bank to be able to differentiate itself in front of its customers. Campaigners have raised concerns about the disappearance of high street bank branches, particularly those aimed at elderly and vulnerable customers.
“What we’re trying to do is something that will allow us to differentiate ourselves in front of our customers,” Maru said. “Of course we will be great at digital, but we will be there when you need help and support.
“You won’t be stuck with a chatbot trying to get out of the loop and talk to someone.”
“The branch manager or bank manager is back,” he added. “Most customers come in and ask to speak to the bank manager from time to time.”
In a separate statement, he said: “Even in a digital world, many customers still value physical presence and the ability to speak to colleagues when they need support.
“In response to changes in where people work, live and shop over the last few years, we have relocated some of our branches and extended branch opening hours, adding 33,500 hours of in-branch availability per year.
“We now aim to develop and invest in our contact centers and app, as well as our branch footprint, as we continue to meet the changing preferences of our customers.”
“The consequences of this rapid transformation are enormous, especially for those later in life,” a March 20926 report said. “The Treasury Committee has warned in a 2025 report on cash acceptance that the UK is “sleepwalking” towards a two-tier society where those who cannot make digital payments or bank digitally are locked out of shops, cafes and essential services!
While he acknowledges that banking centers are spreading across the country, he shares the concern that this is not happening quickly enough to keep pace with branch closures.
