Five bank branches to close each week

Bank branch closures are an emotive subject. And promising not to close branches – or at least, appearing to give that promise – has landed two of the nation's biggest banking names in hot water.

Last week the Advertising Standards Authority banned two television ads from Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and NatWest. In them, the banks claimed that they provide banking services wherever and whenever they are the "last bank in town".