NatWest and RBS axing 158 branches - or 14% of the network - with 770 jobs at risk: does your local bank branch face the chop?

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Over 150 Royal Bank of Scotland and NatWest branches are being closed, as the 'dramatic shift' in consumer banking habits takes its toll on the high street.

In total, 128 NatWest and 30 RBS branches up and down the UK are being axed, with 770 jobs affected.

The group said the majority of affected staff will be re-deployed to other branches, but that this will still leave 360 people out of the job. 

The rate of branch closures is expected to reach record levels this year, with some 423 bank and building society branches axed or put on notice to close by the end of January. 

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Closures: Over 150 Royal Bank of Scotland and NatWest branches are being closed

The company said: 'We have seen a dramatic shift in the way our customers are choosing to bank, with more using mobile and online over traditional branch counters.

'Simple transactions undertaken in branch at NatWest and Royal Bank of Scotland have fallen by 43 per cent since 2010, while online and mobile transactions have increased by more than 400 per cent.'

Instead of a bricks and mortar bank branch, some of the areas affected will be left with 'community bankers.'

A spokeswoman for RBS told This is Money 'community bankers' will be rolled out to serve rural communities and could be based in community centres or other locations to provide support and assistance to customers.

In the community: Instead of a bricks and mortar bank branch, some of the areas affected will be left with 'community bankers

By the end of the year, RBS and NatWest expect to have around 50 community bankers, who will also be tasked with encouraging people to do their banking via mobile phones or other online services. 

An RBS spokesman said: 'Many more customers are choosing to do their banking using mobile and online services over traditional branch counters.

'We interact with our customers over 20 times more through digital channels than physical ones. 

'We have 4.2 million personal mobile users, up by over two million since 2014. As customers change the way they bank with us, we must change the way we serve them.

'The role of the branch is fast moving to a centre for advice, away from basic transactions. While the branch will still be a core part of our offering to customers, inevitably some branches will have to close.'

Going online: Once the 158 branches have been shut down, there will be 151 RBS and 856 NatWest branches left

Once the 158 branches have been shut down, there will be 151 RBS and 856 NatWest branches left.

Union Unite said RBS is 'turning its back on communities.' It added: 'Banks have a duty to the wider community and that is especially the case for banks like RBS that have large taxpayer-owned shareholdings.'

Over the past two years, 1,046 bank and building society branches have been shut by the country’s major high street players. 

Many of the closures have been in rural areas which have seen the 'last bank in town' disappear and may struggle with a broadband connection to bank online.

Earlier in the year, the Post Office announced a deal with banks to offer services at its branches, saying 99.7 per cent of the population live within three miles of one.  

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