More than 130 Bank of Scotland, Lloyds and Halifax branches to close

Lloyds Banking Group is to shut 136 more high street branches as it accelerates plans to cut costs and digitise the bank.

It will close 61 Lloyds, 61 Halifax and 14 Bank of Scotland branches between May this year and March 2026.

The closure plan comes weeks after Lloyds shook up its branch business to allow customers of Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland to use stores across any of its brands for in-person banking.

Scotland

Full list of Bank of Scotland branches set to shut after Lloyds confirm closures

61 Lloyds, 61 Halifax and 14 Bank of Scotland branches will close between May this year and March 2026.

Lloyds blamed the decision to shut the branches on customers shifting away from banking in person to using mobile services.

It said that all workers at the affected branches will be offered jobs elsewhere in the company.

Last January, the group announced plans to cut about 1,600 jobs across its branch network as part of its shake-up.

A spokeswoman for the business said: “Over 20 million customers are using our apps for on-demand access to their money and customers have more choice and flexibility than ever for their day-to-day banking.

“Alongside our apps, customers can also use telephone banking, visit a community banker or use any Halifax, Lloyds or Bank of Scotland branch, giving access to many more branches.

“Customers can also do their everyday banking at over 11,000 branches of the Post Office or in a Banking Hub.”

First Minister John Swinney said the closure of the Bank of Scotland in Pitlochry is “deeply concerning” as the town’s last remaining bank.

Swinney said: “While more people are using online banking, a significant cohort—particularly elderly and vulnerable residents—still rely on in-person services for their day-to-day banking needs.

“The loss of a physical branch will make access even harder for those who depend on face-to-face support.

“I welcome the confirmation that there will be no job losses as a result of this closure, but that does not change the fact that this will be a significant blow to the local community.

“I am therefore seeking an urgent meeting with Bank of Scotland senior management to better understand the rationale behind this decision and to discuss what measures can be taken to ensure local customers are not left without essential banking services.”

It comes after Lloyds Banking Group revealed it was shutting its Dunfermline office impacting around 1,500 staff based at the site.

They will be asked to either work from home, or relocate to the Citymark building in Edinburgh.

Lloyds has announced a raft of branch closures in recent years.

Last year, the number of UK bank branches to shut their doors in the past nine years passed 6,000.

In 2024, nine Scottish TSB branches were closed and the Royal Bank of Scotland announced the closure of one in five of its branches.