Last bank in Hertford closes

The last remaining bank in Hertford has closed its doors, leaving just the Nationwide Building Society in Fore Street offering face-to-face banking services.

The Big Four banks all once had a presence in the town centre, with Barclays, NatWest, HSBC and Lloyds all based in Fore Street. They were joined by Santander when the Spanish bank took over the Abbey National and Bradford & Bingley building societies, and as a consequence had two branches in the town for a short time.

According to data collected by Which?, around 6,300 bank and building society branches have closed since January 2015 - equivalent to 64% of branches in January 2015.

Speaking in 2022, Jackie Uhi, HSBC UK's managing director of UK distribution, said: "People are changing the way they bank and footfall in many branches is at an all-time low, with no signs of it returning. Banking remotely is becoming the norm for the vast majority of us."

This short article looks back at the banks that have closed in the last four years.

Barclays

Barclays Bank was based in Fore Street for over a century, occupying the building now home to The Practitioner. The bank moved to Market Street in 1999, taking over the premises formerly occupied by FADS DIY and interiors store.

Barclays was the first bank to close in Hertford, on 25th February 2022. The Market Street premises have been empty ever since.

HSBC

The second to bank to close was HSBC, on 20th June 2023. The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation acquired the Midland Bank in 1999 and the name disappeared from the high street.

The Fore Street premises are currently being refurbished.

NatWest

The NatWest Bank in Fore Street was the third to close, joining Barclays and the HSBC on 15th August 2023. Like the other former banks, the building has been empty since.

Lloyds

Lloyds Bank in Market Place closed on 9th December 2024. The bank was previously located on the corner of Railway Street and Bircherley Street, having moved there from Fore Street.

Santander

Santander once had two branches in Hertford, having acquired the customers of the Abbey National  and Bradford & Bingley Building Societies, based in Maidenhead Street and Market Place respectively.

Some banking services can be accessed at The Post Office, including paying in cash and cheques.

Barclays also provide part-time face-to-face services in Fore Street.