(Credit: George Iordanov-Nalbantov)

While rival institutions prepare to close over 80 UK branches in June alone, and upwards of 240 by the end of the year, the building society will boast 80 Scottish locations, comprising 44 Nationwide and 36 Virgin Money branches.

This milestone is underpinned by a pledge made last November to protect every single one of its 696 UK branches until at least 2030, even where Nationwide and Virgin Money sites operate in close proximity.

The group’s data shows continued demand for in-person banking across the UK and specifically in Scotland, with customers valuing choice around how they bank, whether that’s in branch, online or over the phone.

Nationwide supported 6.7 million unique branch users across the UK in 2025, representing a 5.1% annual increase and a post-pandemic peak. Furthermore, the building society accounted for 57% of all branch-based product openings in the UK market, with its in-branch current account sales climbing by 21%.

In Scotland, more than 30% of new Nationwide current accounts were opened in person, and Scottish consumers made up nearly 7% of all switchers to the society. Crucially, seven of the group’s Scottish branches now represent the last remaining bank in their respective towns.

Mandy Beech, Nationwide’s director of retail services, said: “This is a major milestone for us and reflects our belief in the value of in-person banking and the reassurance it offers our members and the Scottish communities we support.

“Our data shows branches are very much valued by our customers, with usage rising, and as part of our investment in giving customers across Scotland real choice in how they bank – whether online, in branch or on the phone – we’re proud to stand by our commitment to keep every one of them open until 2030.”

Beyond traditional financial services, the branch network serves a broader social purpose. Through its Fairer Futures programme, the society hosts dementia clinics with specialist Admiral Nurses across 250 UK branches, including Scotland, securing over 5,700 appointments since 2024.

Branches also function as “Safe Spaces” for domestic abuse support, host digital lessons to improve technological confidence, and offer a Scam Checker service for suspicious payments.

Virgin Money branches are tackling data poverty by providing free 25GB monthly SIM cards to anyone in need through the National Databank.