BANK workers have launched a campaign against the “unprecedented” numbers of bank branch closures on the British high street.

Members of Unite in the banking sector have launched the Save Bank Branches campaign to raise awareness of the growing issue.

It is estimated that more than a third of bank branches have closed since 2015 as people switch to online banking in increasingly large numbers.

Many of the closures have been by the “big four” banks: the RBS Group, Barclays, HSBC and Lloyds.

Unite says that these closures not only represents a threat to decent jobs but also leave disabled and elderly people vulnerable and unable to access vital financial services.

Only Nationwide has pledged to retain all of its city or town branches until at least May 2021.

Unite national officer Dominic Hook said: “The scale of bank branch closures over the last decade has been unprecedented. The damage done to local communities, small businesses and staff as a result of the decision of the banking sector to abandon local banking is devastating. 

“How do communities survive when customers cannot access cash, small businesses cannot do their banking locally and the elderly and vulnerable cannot get the local financial expertise they need?”

Unite national officer Rob MacGregor said: “The banks must stop abandoning local communities which bring the sector its vast profits.

“No app, robot, website or telephone system can replace the experience and skills of local bank branch staff based in your community.”