Natwest Group has announced nine further branch closures across Scotland, England and Wales – including two in Wales – while simultaneously pledging that “these will be the last” until at least 2029. The move, announced on Friday morning, affects all three of its brands: NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland and Ulster Bank.
The nine newly scheduled closures include branches in Llanelli and Port Talbot, both set to shut in September. In a statement, the group said counter transactions at the Port Talbot branch fell 53% between January 2020 and January 2026, while Llanelli saw a sharper 74% decline. Customers in Llanelli will be directed to the Ann Street Post Office, the Morriston Banking Hub, or NatWest branches in Swansea city centre or Carmarthen. Port Talbot customers can use the Port Talbot Post Office, Morriston Banking Hub, or the Swansea City Centre branch.
“Natwest closes nine more branches but pledges no further closures until 2029 and invests £50m.”
Despite the closures, Natwest said it is pressing ahead with a fresh long-term investment in its UK presence. It will invest £50m in its network over 2026/2027, focusing on modernising existing locations, improving customer experience and equipping colleagues for high-quality in-person support. The bank also plans to increase the number of mobile branch stops, expanding flexible face-to-face services.
“These will be the last announcements until at least 2029,” the statement read, marking an end to its current programme of network changes. While 95% of its customers now bank digitally, NatWest acknowledged that in-person support remains important. The group also said it will explore opportunities to open new branches where there is clear customer demand.