The best and worst bank branch access in the UK

New analysis by Which? has revealed where you’re more likely to have banking access and where you’ll struggle to find a bank.

The consumer group looked at the number of open banks in every region of the UK and worked out the number of branches per 100,000 of the population.

Bank branch access per 100,000 in the UK

Region	No. of bank branches	No. branches per 100,000
Scotland	338	6.9
west midlands	345	6.0
Wales	179	5.9
Northern Ireland	107	5.8
south west	308	5.6
south east	498	5.5
London	472	5.4
north east	129	5.2
north west	371	5.1
east of England	310	5.1
east midlands	222	4.6
Yorkshire and the Humber	233	4.4

Access varies across the UK

According to the research, nine of Yorkshire’s 54 parliamentary constituencies don’t have a single bank branch - Barnsley South, Bradford South, Colne Valley, Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme, Ossett and Denby Dale, Penistone and Stocksbridge, Rawmarsh and Conisbrough, Sheffield Hallam and York Outer.

Overall, there are 30 constituencies – just over three million people – across the UK without a single bank, while another 56 constituencies only have one branch left.

Which? points out that while Scotland tops the table at 6.9 branches per 100,000 people, the country’s population is spread out, meaning those living in rural areas still face long journeys to use a bank – hardly accessible.

In England, you’re most likely to be able to access a bank in the west midlands with six branches for every 100,000 people, while the neighbouring east midlands has the second-worst access.

Has your local bank closed?

More than 600 bank branches closed in the UK last year, with more set to shut their doors for good by the end of 2024. The Financial Conduct Authority says more needs to be done to plug any gaps left by closures.

Banking hubs are the main alternative for lost branches, although they aren’t a like-for-like replacement – read more about them in our guide.