Personal Finance

HSBC has committed to maintaining all of its bank branches until 2027

HSBC has committed to maintaining all of its bank branches until 2027
All 327 of HSBC's branches will stay open until at least 2027 thanks to an extension of the company's branch promise

All 327 of HSBC's branches will remain open until at least 2027, and the bank has committed to investing more than £55 million in modernizing and renovating its current locations.

One of the big four banks in the UK has revised its branch promise, extending its earlier commitment to keep no branches closed until at least 2026.

As part of a significant transition to digital banking, it coincides with the closure of thousands of branches by major banks.

The consumer organization Which? reports that between January 2015 and December 2025, over 6,600 stores closed, including 743 HSBC locations. Since closing 114 branches throughout the year in 2023, HSBC has not closed any branches.

HSBC announced that it will increase its investment in its branch network from 42 million in 2025 to 55.8 million in 2026.

Sites will be updated and renovated; work at 100 branches is already finished. This includes the opening of two Wealth Centers and the unveiling of Premier Centers in 29 branches, both of which cater to affluent customers.

"We are investing heavily in our physical network so that we can continue to service our customers, including those with more complex needs who value in-person interaction for those moments that matter," stated Sally Williams, head of HSBC UK's branch network. A "

Cash pods and other smaller-scale banking services are still being introduced by HSBC throughout the United Kingdom. By the end of 2025, it will also be present in 200 banking hubs.

The Post Office runs these hubs, which have counters for various banking brands that allow their clients to deposit money, take out cash, and make payments.

Similar to ATMs, cash pods allow users to check account balances, make payments using their HSBC cards, and print mini-statements.

Only a few weeks after the Nationwide Building Society announced that all Nationwide and Virgin Money branches would remain open until at least 2030, HSBC made its most recent bank branch pledge.

The deputy editor of Which? Money, Sam Richardson, stated that other banks should make comparable branch commitments.

Richardson stated, "Other businesses should also think about committing to keep branches open given their ongoing importance to communities so that those who aren't yet ready or able to make the switch to digital banking aren't left in the lurch."

The UK is rife with bank closures.

In the past ten years, thousands of bank branches have closed as the trend toward online banking continues to accelerate.

According to a recent Which? study, 6,633 branches of banks and building societies were shut down between January 2015 and December 2025.

According to separate data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), between 2012 and 2023, the number of active bank branches decreased from 14,689 to 5,745.

Barclays CEO Matt Hammerstein stated that demand for the company's physical bank branches has steadily decreased due to the rise in online banking.

Additionally, TSB reported that over 90% of transactions were completed digitally and that over 67% of its clients used mobile, online, or phone banking last year.

However, there are worries that some people, particularly the elderly, may find it difficult to access services as a result of the widespread closure of bank branches.

According to a May 2023 survey conducted by the charity Age UK among 2,632 individuals 65 years of age and older, 39% did not use digital banking and could be at high risk of financial exclusion after bank branches close.

What to do if the branch of your bank has closed.

You might be curious about your options in the event that your local branch closes if you prefer in-person banking over online or mobile banking services.

You won't be able to apply for a loan or open a new bank account at your local post office, but you can do the majority of basic banking tasks there.

Some banks provide a mobile branch service, which is a bus that travels to your location and provides services that are typically available at a physical branch.

Other banks provide banking services in structures like village halls and libraries.

To find out what services your bank offers and when they might be in your area again, it is worthwhile to get in touch with them.

Another option would be to check if your neighborhood has a banking center. The website of the Post Office contains a list of all the operational hubs.

Last but not least, you could transfer your existing account to a building society or bank with local branches.

The Current Account Switch Service (CASS) allows you to switch current accounts for free most of the time.