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Local bank branch alternatives
Where to access cash, deposit cheques, and get face-to-face advice
Bank branches continue to disappear from high streets around the country. So far this year, 375 have closed permanently – and hundreds more are set to follow. This guide takes you through your options for face-to-face banking and access to cash if your local branch has gone.
Banking options at-a-glance
This guide goes into detail about your different options so you can choose the right one for you. But if you can't get to a bank branch and you're looking for a specific service right now, follow these links to jump straight to the right section:
- Withdraw cash: Try a free ATM, post office or banking hub.
- Deposit a cheque: Try a post office, banking hub or online banking.
- Talk to someone from your bank: Try a mobile branch service or banking hub.
- Manage a direct debit or other payment: Try a banking hub or online banking.
Option 1: Free ATMs and local shops

If you're looking to withdraw cash and can't get to a local bank branch or Post Office, you have two alternatives:
- Find a free ATM (or cash machine).
- Get cash at the till from a local shop – without buying anything. Under the 'cashback without purchase' scheme, you can request to withdraw any amount from 1p to £50 from your current account at the till in over 1,000 local shops. You don't have to buy anything, and in most cases there's no fee – though Link, the operator of the scheme, says some stores may charge for the service, so check before you go.
Link, the UK's cash machine network, has a free 'Cash Locator' online tool that lets you find where your nearest free cash machines are AND where to find your nearest store offering cash withdrawals at the till.
Type in your postcode or town and the tool will show you all the ATMs in your area, colour-coded by whether you have to pay a fee to use it or not – the green dots represent free cash machines, the purple ones are pay-to-use ATMs, and the orange dots labelled 'CT' are free 'cash at till' options. Here's an example to give you an idea of what to look for:
Option 2: Post Office branches

Customers of nearly all UK banks, including Barclays, Halifax, HSBC, Lloyds, NatWest and Santander, can access the following basic banking services from any of the Post Office's 11,500 branches:
- Cash deposits
- Cheque deposits
- Cash withdrawals
- Balance enquiries
Head to the Post Office website to check what your bank offers and what you'll need for each service – just select your bank from the dropdown list and the available options should appear.
You can also use the Post Office's branch finder tool to locate your nearest and check its opening hours.
Quick questions
Option 3: Banking hubs

Banking hubs are part of a new scheme designed to plug the gap left by the recent swathe of bank branch closures. They operate in a similar way to standard local bank branches, but several banks all share the same facilities.
Reps from major banks can help if you need to talk to someone
Banking hubs offer private spaces where customers can speak to someone from their specific bank. These work on a rotating basis, so there will be staff from different banks available on different days. The following banks are taking part:
- Bank of Ireland UK
- Barclays
- Danske Bank
- HSBC
- Lloyds Bank
- Nationwide Building Society
- NatWest
- Santander
- TSB
- Virgin Money
You can also use a banking hub to access your cash – regardless of who you bank with
The hubs have counter services operated by Post Office staff, where you can withdraw and deposit cash whenever the hub is open and regardless of who you bank with.
Is there a banking hub near you?
Currently, there are eight banking hubs in the UK, at the following locations:
Banking hubs now open
Location | Banking hub address |
Acton, London | Unit 2, The Oaks Shopping Centre, W3 6RE |
Brixham, Devon | 62 Fore Street, TQ5 8EF |
Buckingham | Buckingham Library, Verney Close, MK18 1JP |
Cambuslang, Lanarkshire | 158 Main Street, G72 7EL |
Carnoustie, Angus | 63 High Street, DD7 6AD |
Cottingham, East Yorkshire | 121 Hallgate, HU16 4DA |
Rochford, Essex | 38-40 West Street, SS4 1AJ |
Troon, South Ayrshire | 11 Ayr Street, KA10 6EB |
MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis cuts the ribbon on the Acton banking hub, June 2023. From left to right: Lord Vaizey of Didcot; Rupa Huq, MP for Acton and Ealing Central; Martin Lewis; Natalie Ceeney CBE, chair of Cash Access UK.
More banking hubs should open soon...
There are plans to open 60 more banking hubs across the UK. The towns and cities they'll be based in have been announced, but the full details of addresses, opening hours and when they'll launch are yet to be confirmed – though it's expected that many should be up and running within the next 12 months.
Cash Access UK, a bank-owned company responsible for the delivery of new hubs, will work with the communities listed to find suitable locations for the hubs, obtain planning permission, refit the properties and get each location working.
Below we've listed the towns and cities where banking hubs are due to open:
Option 4: Mobile and 'pop-up' bank branches

Many of the major banks now also provide their own alternatives to traditional banking for those who no longer have access to their local branch.
However, these mobile and 'pop-up' services don't typically offer cash or counter services.
Select your bank from the list below to see what alternative face-to-face banking options it offers.
Option 5: Switching banks
If your local branch is closing, and face-to-face banking is important to you, you might want to consider switching to a bank that does have a local branch nearby – although bear in mind there's no guarantee that it won't close in the future too.
Only one major current account provider – Nationwide Building Society – has pledged not to leave any town or city where it is already based until at least 2026.
See our Best bank accounts guide for our current top picks, including the best bank accounts for savings interest and longer-term rewards, and our How to open a bank account guide for the basics on picking and setting up a new account.
Option 6: Can you bank online or via app?
If you're able to, you may want to consider online or app banking. Many banks will let you deposit cheques, manage your direct debits, apply for credit cards or loans and transfer money all from your computer or phone.
For full details of what services each major bank offers online, and help with setting up internet banking, follow the links below:
Spotted out of date info/broken links? Email: brokenlink@moneysavingexpert.com
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