Abingdon Banking Review
The Future of Personal Banking in Abingdon
Abingdon has lost several high street bank branches in recent years, and some residents are concerned about how they will be able to continue to manage their money. We thought it would be useful therefore to pull together information about the ways in which residents can still conduct their everyday banking in person.
The main Post Office on West St Helen Street and the Northcourt Road branch provide a wide range of services for most major banks, including cash withdrawals, deposits, and balance checks, though limits vary depending on your bank.
Several banks and building societies still retain a presence in the town, including:
- HSBC
- Nationwide
- Coventry Building Society
- Nationwide Building Society
- Santander (though counter service ended June 2025)
ATMs (cash points) are available at these locations and at numerous non-bank sites such as Waitrose, Tesco (Extra and Express), Londis, and petrol stations. While the shift toward online banking makes the decline of face-to-face services seem inevitable, there are moments, such as after a bereavement, when speaking to someone in person is invaluable, offering reassurance and guidance that an app cannot provide. In some cases, where banks have disappeared, pop-up and community banking services have been introduced:
- Lloyds Community Banker operates every Wednesday, 09:00–15:30 at the Guildhall, offering account support, card and PIN assistance, online banking help, payments and transfers, as well as guidance for bereavement, fraud support, identity verification, and other life events.
- Barclays Local operates daily (weekdays, hours vary) at The Lambourn, Wyndyke Furlong (OX14 1UJ), offering support for power of attorney, fraud advice, digital banking, bereavement, and money management, though not cash or counter services.
What can you do?
At present, Abingdon is still considered to have sufficient access to banking services, so alternatives like a Banking Hub (a shared community space where multiple banks can provide a service) are unlikely to happen in the near future.
If your bank has closed and an in-person service is important to you, you could consider switching to a bank or building society that maintains a local presence. You can visit branches to ask about their future plans in the town.
There are a couple of additional sources of help:
- The Current Account Switch Service is a free independent service that allows you to move your current account from one UK bank or building society to another quickly, safely, and free of charge, usually within seven working days. It automatically transfers your Direct Debits, standing orders, and incoming payments, and guarantees you won’t lose money if anything goes wrong during the switch. Find out more here: www.currentaccountswitch.co.uk
- Money Helper is a free, government-backed service in the UK that provides impartial guidance on money, banking and pensions. Find out more here: www.moneyhelper.org.uk – you can contact them by phone, email, or webchat.