Nationwide’s adverts have been banned for misleading people into thinking it would not close branches – unlike rivals.

The Advertising Standards Authority had 282 complaints – including from Santander – about the commercials, starring The Crown actor Dominic West, 54.

The campaign played up the building society’s pledge not to close any branches until 2026. But it had shut 20 in 18 months and the ASA said this was lost in the smallprint, and banned them.