The Cumberland pledges to stay on as other banks leave the high street

The Cumberland's decision to stay is a considered one, shaped by what customers and residents across the region have said they want from their building society, ensuring people remain connected to in-person banking services in the areas other organisations have left.

The decision follows a region-wide Community Conversations listening programme commissioned by CEO Stuart Miller, which included drop-in sessions in shopping centres across the heartland where residents were asked what mattered most to them. The message was consistent: keep your branches open. Customers were clear that having a financial institution on the high street was central to the financial resilience of their community.

The Cumberland is helping fill the gap left by other lenders. It has 31 branches across Cumbria, Lancashire, Northumberland and South-West Scotland, and today it is the only remaining financial institution in 19 of those 31 communities, ensuring customers continue to have access to face-to-face banking where it is needed most. That figure will rise to 20 when Santander closes its Whitehaven branch in early 2027.

The importance of that presence is also backed by research from the Building Society Association, which found that 91 percent of people say their local branch is important to their financial wellbeing and 75 percent say it makes managing money easier. The same research found 96 percent of people believe branches help keep high streets thriving.

As a result, it is uniquely positioned to understand what the high street means to the people, the businesses, and the wider region.

“When banks leave, they take more than a service with them. At The Cumberland, being an active member of our community is not optional, it is fundamental to who we are so we simply won’t follow the crowd and leave. Quite the opposite, we’ll double down by publicly committing to stay and going further with a multi-million pound investment programme into the branch network.”

The Cumberland puts the community and customers at the heart of everything it does, offering tailored support, clear guidance and a people-first approach to everyday banking.

As part of its community commitment, the building society is investing in its branch network across the region to better serve the communities it calls home.

Part of a major investment which has seen its Carlisle English Street, Carlisle Rosehill, Egremont, Annan, Preston, and Barrow branches modernised, the building society’s Whitehaven branch is currently undergoing refurbishment with completion expected later this year.

The refurbishment programme introduces modern, accessible spaces designed around how customers want to bank today, combining face-to-face service with private areas for financial guidance, ensuring the branches remain a base for the community for years to come.

The Cumberland has provided more than £1.5m to charities and good causes across its heartland over the past five years. Last year alone, that included £350,000 in direct support and more than 200 days of colleague volunteering.

Additionally, as well as providing current accounts and savings products to individuals and families, the building society will continue to support local businesses with its relationship-managed approach to commercial lending. Alongside commercial mortgages, The Cumberland also supports organisations with services including current accounts and savings accounts.