Closure of half of Dumbarton Constituency’s banks to come under parliamentary scrutiny

 Dismayed Royal Bank customers in Alexandria with Jackie Baillie MSP.

March 14, 2018 – MSP Jackie Baillie is encouraging businesses and residents in Dumbarton, Vale of Leven and Helesnburgh to take part in a survey on the impact of bank closures.

The closure of more than a third of Scotland’s banks since 2010 is set to come under the microscope, as the Scottish Parliament’s Economy, Jobs and Fair Work Committee calls on local businesses and consumers to ‘speak out’ on the impact on local communities and economic growth.

Around half of bank branches in Dumbarton Constituency have closed since 2010 according to the latest figures from the Office of National Statistics*.

Jackie Baillie is a member of the Economy Committee and she wants small businesses and people in Dumbarton, Vale of Leven and Helensburgh to have their say. Last week Jackie revealed that the Royal Bank of Scotland broke a commitment to introduce a mobile branch stop in Alexandria after it closed the branch in the town centre.

In its inquiry, the Committee will scrutinise the impact of these bank closures on local businesses and economies, including tourism and SMEs; and on consumers. A copy of the Committee’s survey can be found here. It will run until Friday 23 March 2018.

Jackie said: “Communities in Dumbarton, Vale of Leven, Helensburgh and Lomond have been hit hard by bank closures over the last 7 years. While a third of Scotland’s branches have closed since 2010, our local area has lost around half of its branches.

“This inquiry will look closely at the impact of bank closures on our local economy. Small businesses depend on local branches to deposit money and the availability of ATMs for their customers to withdraw cash. At the same time, bank closures have a disproportionate impact on vulnerable groups like older people who are less likely to use online services.

“This inquiry is a response to the significant public concern around branch closures and I would encourage small businesses and local residents to speak out by taking part in our survey.”

ENDS