TSB is set to close 36 bank branches across the UK as part of efforts to rebalance its digital and face-to-face services.

The Independent has reported that the latest round of closures will leave the group with 175 branches across the country, and the job cuts will be in the fraud operations department, central operations and staff who work in the sites that are set for closures.

TSB suggested the reason for the closures, which includes branches in London, Birmingham and Glasgow, is that not enough customers are using them.

It stated that about 96% of all of its transactions take place outside of a branch, with in-store transactions falling by 43% over the past four years.

Of the 36 branches that are set to close, 27 will close in September and the remaining nine will shut in the following May.

The closures follow the announcement by TSB that it was setting aside £29m for a programme of cost-saving initiatives, which included focus on business efficiency.

A spokesperson at TSB said: "The decision to close a branch is never taken lightly, but our customers are now doing most of their banking digitally and we need to move to a better balance of digital and face-to-face services.

"We remain committed to a national branch network and through innovation and integration with video, telephone, digital, branch and other face-to-face services TSB customers have more ways to bank with us than ever before."

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