NEW figures reveal that 46 banks in south east London have shut down since 2015. 

It comes after an analysis by Which, which shows the "sharp decline" in the number of open banks across the UK compared to seven years ago.

The increasing use of online banking and contactless payments has led to concerns some will be left behind, or unable to access key services.

Other figures by LINK also show the decline in the use of ATM machines over the years. 

Figures below show the number of banks remaining in each area from 2015 to April 2022.

The data for the number of ATMs used is shown between the start of 2018 and early March this year.

Here are the bank figures for south east London:

Orpington:

More than two in five banks in Orpington have closed.

Seven banks have closed which leaves nine remaining in the area.

The number of ATMs used has dropped from 83 to 56.

Old Bexley and Sidcup:

Nine banks have closed in Old Bexley and Sidcup which leaves six remaining.

The number of ATMs used has also dropped from 66 to 45.

Lewisham and Penge:

Seven banks have been shuttered which leaves just three remaining.

The number of ATMs has also dropped from 64 to 40.

Lewisham and Deptford:

Four banks have closed in the area.

The number of ATMs has also dropped from 123 to 85.

Lewisham East:

Two banks have been shuttered in Lewisham East which leaves just four remaining.

The number of ATMs used has also dropped from 69 to 43.

Eltham:

Only one bank has closed in Eltham since the start of 2015, leaving six remaining.

The number of ATMs has declined from 73 to 58.

Erith and Thamesmead:

Erith and Thamesmead have seen all its banks shuttered.

Every one of the four banks open in 2015 was then closed.

The number of ATMs has also dropped from 61 to 42.

Greenwich and Woolwich:

Four banks have been shuttered which leaves eight remaining in the area.

The number of ATMs has also declined from 127 to 103.

Bromley and Chislehurst:

Eight banks have been shuttered in the area which leaves 11 remaining.

The number of ATMs in Bromley and Chislehurst dropped from 81 to 70.

Bexleyheath and Crayford:

Three banks have been shuttered which leaves seven remaining in the area.

The number of ATMs has dropped from 88 to 69.

Beckenham:

Nearly a third of banks in Beckenham have closed since 2015.

Four banks have been shuttered leaving nine remaining.

The number of ATMs has dropped from 56 to 43.

Which chief executive, Anabel Hoult, said: “While the pandemic has accelerated the move to digital payments for many consumers.

“Many are not yet ready to make that switch and require protection from an avalanche of ATM and bank branch closures that have left the UK’s cash system at risk of collapse.”

The data found that nearly half (48 per cent) of bank branches across the UK have closed since the start of 2015.

Seven constituencies have seen every one of their bank branches closed in recent years.

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