Natwest has announced one of Torquay Town Centre’s most significant buildings will be closing for business on 3 September 2025, with their Paignton Branch due to follow on 2 October.
Paignton and Torquay are 2 of 55 branch closures announced by the banking giant this week, which had already closed it branches in Brixham, Lawes Bridge (Shiphay) and St Marychurch over recent years. As part of yesterday’s announcement, the bank indicated over 80 per cent of their active current account holders now use their digital services and over 97 per cent of retail accounts with them are now opened online.
The latest announcement means Natwest will not have any branches in the Torbay area by the end of this year. Natwest customers can use local Post Office Counters to withdraw cash, check balances, deposit cash and cheques, and use the Change Giving service.
Following the announcement of the Torquay Branch closure, Cash Access UK announced it would be opening a banking hub in Torquay to ensure continued access to cash. Their website states a property search is underway and the new hub will open in June 2026.
The new Torquay banking hub will be like one already open in Brixham and would be open Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm, with a counter operated by the Post Office. What are called “community bankers” would be available 1 day a week from individual banks to talk with their customers. A banking hub is not proposed for Paignton given several major banks still have branches in Paignton Town Centre, including Lloyds, HSBC and Barclays, alongside the ability to use Post Office banking services at Paignton Post Office.
Natwest customer and former Torbay MP Kevin Foster said: “This news will be a blow to the staff who have served local people for many years, especially more vulnerable customers who need the human touch a computer cannot provide.”
“Less than 2 years ago, when I challenged the closure of their Lawes Bridge Branch, I was repeatedly told by Natwest it would be ok because their vulnerable customers could use Torquay’s main branch, now they are closing that one as well! It means any reassurance offered now about future services for vulnerable customers cannot be taken at face value.”
“The least Natwest can do is offer their current branch building to be the new banking hub for Torquay.”
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