Region of Murcia loses almost half of bank branches in ten years as access gap widens

More than 390 bank offices have disappeared across the Region since 2015, leaving some towns with no branches at all and growing concern for older residents

Something as everyday as withdrawing cash or paying a bill is becoming increasingly difficult in parts of the Region of Murcia, not because of queues or confusing machines, but because there is simply nowhere left to go.

Over the past decade, the Region has lost more than four out of every ten bank branches, according to the latest figures from the Bank of Spain. In October 2015, there were 926 bank offices operating across Murcia. By October 2025, that number had fallen to just 533, a reduction of 392 branches, or around 42%.

The steady pace of closures, happening month by month and year by year, has transformed the banking landscape. While online banking and automated services have made some transactions quicker, they have also created serious problems for people who rely on face-to-face services, particularly in smaller towns and rural areas.

As the Association for the Defence of Consumers and Users of Banks, Savings Banks and Insurance Companies (Adicae) in the Region of Murcia explains, “There is a major problem, because the closures primarily affect towns where residents tend to be elderly and unable to travel to the bank.”

According to data from the Bank of Spain, four municipalities currently have no bank branches at all. Albudeite, Ojós, Ulea and Villanueva del Río Segura are now without any physical banking offices, forcing residents to travel elsewhere for even the most basic services.

Adicae says banks are pushing harder towards online-only services, adding that financial institutions are trying to “further digitise” and “force consumers to open more online accounts”. The organisation accepts that technology has its place but argues that progress should not come at the expense of vulnerable users. “We agree with technological progress, but not with leaving consumers behind,” it says, warning that the digital divide remains significant.

The closures have not spared the Region’s largest cities. In the municipality of Murcia, including the capital and surrounding districts, around 130 bank offices have disappeared between 2015 and 2025. Cartagena has lost 66 branches over the same period, with further reductions also recorded in Lorca and Molina de Segura.

Problems become more acute when branches shut in outlying districts, where populations are older and residents may lack smartphones, computers or the skills needed for online banking.

A new legal framework may offer some protection. Law 10/2025 on customer service, which came into force this month, requires banks to provide priority telephone service for elderly people and those with disabilities, as well as personalised assistance in branches when needed. Staff must also receive specialist training. However, banks have 12 months to fully adapt to the law, and it does not require them to keep branches open.

Local councils in rural areas are trying to respond. Víctor Manuel López, president of the Federation of Municipalities of the Region of Murcia and mayor of Ulea, says town halls are holding talks with rural-focused banks such as Caja Rural and Caja Rural Central to explore whether limited in-person services could return.

Councils have even offered municipal buildings so branches could operate “for at least one or two days a week” to meet the needs of older residents, López explains. Where branches cannot be restored, municipalities have pushed for the installation of modern cash-points, ensuring that services like cash withdrawals, bill payments and balance checks remain available.

As López puts it, the traditional banking model may have changed, but the need for basic, accessible financial services has not.

For a full list of banks that remain open click here.