UK banks have closed around 6,000 branches, or around 60 per cent of the total bank branch network, over the past nine years.

The figures from Which? follow what the organisation describes as “troubling surge” in the rate of closures after the government announced plans in 2020 for laws to protect access to cash.

There have already been 200 closures scheduled for the remainder of the year, while a further 24 are planned for next year, with more expected to be announced.

Which? said that by the end of 2024, 33 parliamentary constituencies will be without a single bank branch.

According to the consumer champion, Barclays, which is closing eight branches on Friday, has reduced its network by the most, with the total number of branch closures reaching 1,216.

FStech has reached out to Barclays for comment.

NatWest Group, which comprises NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland and Ulster Bank, has closed 1,360 branches, while Lloyds Banking Group, made up of Lloyds Bank, Halifax and Bank of Scotland, has shut 1,146 sites.

While many people have switched to digital banking, Which? said there are still a significant number of people who are not ready or willing to make the transition and still require a cash-based alternative.

The organisation says that while there are alternatives to bank branches across the country, such as enhanced Post Offices and banking hubs, the rollout of these is “too slow”, with only 50 out of the recommend 130 banking hub locations having been opened across the UK.

Sam Richardson, deputy editor of Which? Money, said that essential banking services needed to remain accessible to those who rely on them.

“While some may hardly notice the closure of their local branch as they seamlessly switch to online banking, for others reliant on face-to-face services, the impact can be disastrous,” he added. "It is crucial that the government prioritises opening more hubs quickly, so that people aren’t left behind.”

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