Bank Branch Closures UK: Your Rights Explained

Key Facts FSMA 2023 gave the FCA powers to maintain access to cash and require impact assessments before branch closures FCA rules (effective September 2024): banks must not close until LINK has assessed local cash and deposit access As of March 2026, 225 banking hubs are operational across the UK (source: LINK/Cash Access UK) Banks must give at least 12 weeks notice of a branch closure to customers and local communities FCA FG22/6 sets out the guidance framework for firms considering closures

The legal framework for branch closures

The Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 (FSMA 2023) placed a duty on the Financial Conduct Authority to seek to ensure reasonable provision of cash withdrawal and deposit facilities for personal and business customers. This was a significant shift: prior to FSMA 2023, there was no statutory obligation on the FCA to protect access to cash.

The FCA's resulting rules, which came into effect in September 2024, require banks and building societies to assess the impact of any proposed closure on the local community's access to cash and banking services before proceeding. The assessment process is run by LINK, the UK's cash machine network operator, which conducts an independent review using criteria including distance to the nearest alternative branch, ATM or Post Office, demographics of the local population, and usage patterns.

If the LINK assessment identifies that a closure would leave an area underserved, the FCA expects the closing bank to fund an appropriate remedy. Remedies can include contributing to a banking hub, installing a free-to-use ATM, or establishing an arrangement with the Post Office for basic banking services.

What banks must do before closing a branch

FCA Finalised Guidance FG22/6 sets out the regulator's expectations of firms considering branch closures or ATM conversions. The core requirements are:

Impact assessment. The bank must conduct, or commission LINK to conduct, an assessment of the impact on the local community. This must consider the full range of alternatives available, not just like-for-like branch replacements. Advance notice. Banks must give customers at least 12 weeks notice of a planned closure. This notice must include information about alternative ways to access banking services. Engagement. Banks are expected to engage with local communities and stakeholders, including local authorities, during the notice period. Remediation. Where the LINK assessment identifies a gap, the bank must put in place a suitable alternative. It cannot simply close and leave the community without recourse.

The guidance does not give residents a legal right to block a closure. However, it does create enforceable obligations on banks, and the FCA can take action where a firm fails to comply.

Banking hubs: how they work

A banking hub is a shared physical site, typically located in a town centre, which gives customers of multiple banks access to cash and basic banking services from a single counter. As of March 2026, 225 banking hubs are operational across the UK, with more under development. Hubs are managed by Cash Access UK, a company set up by the major UK banks and building societies.

At a banking hub, customers can withdraw and deposit cash at a shared counter. Each participating bank also sends a community banker to the hub on a rotating basis, allowing customers to discuss more complex matters such as fraud, account queries, or financial difficulty with a member of their own bank's staff.

Banking hubs do not replicate the full range of services available at a dedicated branch - mortgage advice, business banking, and more complex financial products typically require an appointment at a remaining branch or by telephone.

Post Office banking services

Under arrangements with the major banks, Post Office branches offer basic banking services including cash withdrawal and deposit for personal customers. The Post Office network of around 11,500 branches provides a significant alternative access point, particularly in rural communities.

The services available at the Post Office vary by bank. Most personal current account holders can withdraw cash and deposit notes and cheques. Business customers should check with their bank what Post Office services are available to them.

What residents can do

Request information. Customers have a right to receive clear information from their bank about why the branch is closing and what alternatives will be available. Engage during the consultation period. The 12-week notice period is the window during which local engagement is most likely to influence remediation decisions. Local councils, MPs, and community groups can raise concerns directly with the bank and with LINK. Contact the FCA. If a bank closes a branch without conducting the required LINK assessment, or fails to provide adequate notice, this may constitute a breach of FCA rules. Complaints about firm conduct can be submitted to the FCA via fca.org.uk/consumers/report-scam-us or by calling 0800 111 6768. The FCA does not resolve individual complaints about specific closure decisions but can investigate systemic non-compliance. Contact your MP. Branch closures in rural and deprived communities are a matter of ongoing parliamentary concern. MPs can raise constituency cases with the Treasury and the FCA.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have a legal right to stop my local bank branch from closing?

No. There is no legal right for residents or customers to veto a branch closure. However, under FCA rules effective from September 2024, banks must conduct a LINK-run assessment of the impact on local cash and banking access before closing. Where a gap is identified, the bank must fund an appropriate remedy.

How much notice must a bank give before closing a branch?

Under FCA Finalised Guidance FG22/6, banks must give at least 12 weeks notice to customers and local communities before closing a branch. The notice must include information about alternative ways to access banking services.

What is a banking hub and how do I get one for my area?

A banking hub is a shared banking facility, typically in a town centre, serving customers of multiple banks. As of March 2026, 225 hubs are operational. Hubs are recommended through the LINK impact assessment process when a closure would leave an area underserved. They are funded by the closing bank and managed by Cash Access UK (cashaccessuk.co.uk).

Does the Post Office count as a bank branch alternative?

The Post Office offers basic banking services - cash withdrawal and deposit - for customers of most major banks. It does not provide full branch services such as mortgage or investment advice. Post Office banking services are part of the formal remediation toolkit assessed by LINK.

Who oversees cash access rules?

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) oversees compliance with cash access rules under FSMA 2023. LINK runs the local impact assessments. The Bank of England has separate powers to oversee the wholesale cash infrastructure under the same Act.