Major banks shorten working hours: when branches will operate.

Changes in bank working hours

According to The Sun: Soon, several major banks in the UK will reduce their working hours in hundreds of their branches, as reported by The Sun.

In particular, the Lloyds Banking group, which operates Lloyds, Halifax, and Bank of Scotland, plans to change the working hours of all its 757 branches starting September 29.

This change is seen as a step towards ensuring greater stability and improving employee well-being, however, it also means less time for customers who need access to personal banking services.

New working hours

• Opening hours shift from 9:00 to 9:30, and on Wednesdays – to 10:00 for staff training and development.
• Branch closures will remain at standard levels: from 15:30 to 16:30.
• Customers used to longer working hours may lose up to 90 minutes of service daily.
• Saturday working hours will also be reduced – branches will operate from 9:30 instead of 9:00.

The reduction in working hours is part of a broader trend in the banking industry, as more people switch to online and mobile banking.

These changes will take effect on September 29, and employees have already been informed about the new changes.

Customers using branch services are advised to check the new working hours before planning their visits.

Other changes in the banking sector

Additionally, Lloyds, Halifax, NatWest, and Bank of Scotland will close 119 branches over the next few months.

Last month, Co-operative Bank announced plans to reduce the working hours of some branches to three hours a day.

In January 2026, 25 of these branches will also stop operating on Saturdays.

However, the bank confirmed that none of its branches would be closed permanently as part of these changes.

In June, Santander cut working hours at 36 branches by half.

These changes are part of a broader restructuring that also includes the closure of 95 branches and the conversion of 18 into "cashless" service counters.

Prospects for customers

"Customers are forgotten," says Tara Evans, head of consumer editorial at The Sun.

With branch closures and the shift to online banking, customers may feel isolated.

People like David Elkins, aged 82, who were affected by the closure of his HSBC branch in 2023, now have to travel ten miles to the nearest.

Banking hubs are becoming one of the solutions to fill the gaps left by numerous closures, but they are still insufficient.

231 such hubs are planned, but currently, there are only 160.

They can also use one of the over 11,500 Post Office branches for basic banking tasks, although accounts cannot be opened or closed there.

The presented changes in banking operations reflect the adaptation of financial institutions to new market conditions and customer demands. On one hand, this aligns with the current trends in digitization, but on the other hand, it may pose problems for those who are used to the traditional format of banking services.

There are significant challenges ahead for banks, as they need to find a balance between cost-cutting and customer needs to ensure quality service in a rapidly changing world.