Major UK bank to reopen high street branches after it closed 800 sites for good | UK | News

Barclays has announced plans to reopen and expand its high street branch network after closing around 800 sites across the UK over the past decade. The move marks a notable shift for the banking giant, which had previously embraced digital-first services amid declining in-person visits. Now, under chief executive Vim Maru, the bank is pausing further closures and investing in physical locations to restore face-to-face banking.

Maru, who joined Barclays in 2023, said the decision reflects a growing recognition that many customers still value in-person support, particularly in communities that have been left without local banking services.

“What we’re trying to do is something that allows us to differentiate in front of our customers,” Maru told The Times.

“Of course we’re going to be great in digital but we’re going to be there for you when you need some help and support.”

A key element of the strategy is the return of traditional branch roles, including bank managers, positions that had largely disappeared as services moved online.

Maru emphasized that customers still want human interaction for more complex financial matters.
“The branch manager or bank manager is back. Most customers come in and they want to talk to the bank manager from time to time.”

Barclays currently operates just 206 branches across the UK, a sharp decline from its historical footprint. The bank now plans to increase this number alongside extending opening hours and improving accessibility. According to Maru, Barclays has already added more than 33,500 hours of in-branch availability annually through operational changes.

The shift comes amid intensifying competition from digital-only challengers such as Revolut and Monzo, which have rapidly gained market share in the UK current account sector.

While Barclays continues to invest heavily in its mobile app and online services, the bank now sees physical branches as a way to stand out in an increasingly crowded digital market. Maru noted that customers should not feel “stuck in some chatbot trying to get out of the loop,” highlighting frustrations with purely digital customer service.

Barclays’ move contrasts with a broader industry trend of branch closures. Earlier this year, Lloyds Banking Group shut 71 branches, with hundreds more closures planned across its brands.

Consumer advocacy group Which? reports that 218 branches across Lloyds, Halifax, and Bank of Scotland are expected to close in 2025 alone.

Banks have attributed these closures to changing customer behaviour, with millions now relying on mobile and online banking. Lloyds says more than 21 million of its customers use digital services, significantly reducing footfall in physical branches

Barclays’ decision suggests a shift toward a hybrid banking model that combines digital convenience with physical accessibility.