NatWest has announced the closure of 23 branches across the country, adding to dozens that have already closed so far this month.

The bank said it had slated 21 sites in England to shut down and two in Wales.

Sites including Frome, Bootle, Stroud and Blackpool will shut down between late April and the start of June, NatWest said.

The timing of the closure of the branches in Horwich and Shoreham-by-Sea has yet to be decided.

It comes a week after Lloyds Banking Group said it would close 40 Halifax and Lloyds sites in England and Wales.

At the time the company blamed footfall, which has been rapidly decreasing since the onset of online banking and dropped further during the pandemic.

Lloyds said the number of customers visiting the branches it plans to close had dropped by 60% on average over the last five years.

NatWest did not immediately respond to request for comment.

The latest announcement means 87 branches have been slated for closure by high street banks so far this year.

In October NatWest announced it planned to close 43 branches, adding to 15 announced in May and 21 in February.