Two banks on Strood High Street are set to close next year.

NatWest has announced that its branch will shut on 6 March, while Lloyds is closing on 4 April.

Both banks blamed the closures on the declining number of customers using a counter service amid a shift to online and mobile banking.

A survey at NatWest’s branch showed counter transactions reduced by 72% between January 2019 and January 2023.

Meanwhile, the Lloyds branch saw a 46% drop in counter transactions between July 2018 and July 2023.

The nearest alternative branches are located in Chatham.

Customers can also visit Strood’s Post Office at 13-17 North Street for most everyday banking services or use their closest cash machine.

The latest round of bank closures in Strood follows Barclays and HSBC, who shut their branches in 2021 and 2022 respectively.

This will leave the town with just two banks – Nationwide and Kent Reliance.