HONITON FACES ANOTHER HIGH STREET LOSS AS NATWEST EXITS
Report by Stephen Collier for Pulman's Weekly News
Residents in Honiton are set to lose their local NatWest branch this October, as the bank has confirmed it will permanently close the branch at 94 High Street on 21st October 2025. The decision is part of a wider shift in how customers are choosing to bank, with face-to-face transactions steadily declining.
NatWest says that counter transactions by personal customers have dropped by nearly half over the last five years, falling 48 per cent between January 2020 and January 2025. In contrast, 65 per cent of customers used online banking services between February 2024 and January 2025.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the bank said: “As we adapt our services to meet changing needs we may take the difficult decision to close or consolidate some of our branches. While we know that this is disappointing, we have carefully considered how best to invest to make sure we have a sustainable network for the future.”
They added that each branch is reviewed individually, taking into account factors such as local demand, the availability of nearby alternatives, transport links and the level of financial vulnerability in the community. In Honiton’s case, the nearest full-service NatWest branch will now be in Exeter, at 59 High Street.
To ease the transition, NatWest has said it will set up a temporary community pop-up in a local venue for twelve weeks after the closure. Staff there will support customers who may find it difficult to adjust to the change, especially those unfamiliar with digital banking.
The spokesperson said: “We’re committed to ensuring the transition of UK banking services on to digital platforms is managed compassionately and we recognise that some people still need help to adapt, particularly our vulnerable customers. We are also committed to supporting our elderly customers, with almost half of over 70s with active current accounts now accessing digital banking.”
They said that branch staff will be reaching out to those most likely to be affected and that over 200,000 calls were made last year alone to support people moving to digital banking. Community pop-ups, along with access to Post Office services, free ATMs and Banking Hubs, are intended to fill the gap left by the closure.
More information about the exact location and operating hours of the Honiton pop-up is expected in the coming months. For many residents, though, the closure will be another sign of the town centre changing, with traditional high street services continuing to shrink.
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