By Bill Heaney
Dumbarton constituency MSP Jackie Baillie has hit out after Bank of Scotland announced two local branch closures.
The banking giant revealed on Wednesday this week that it will axe Alexandria and Helensburgh branches in March.
Local residents are furious that both towns will now be left without counter banking services following the announcement.
Jackie Baillie speaking in the Scottish Parliament.
Constituency MSP Jackie Baillie, pictured here, blasted the move, saying: “I am very disappointed that the Bank of Scotland has taken this decision.
“I am clear that banks should be accountable to their customers and that people must be able to access counter banking services.
“There is a need for bank branches in our communities, whether the banking industry likes it or not. It is not always feasible to phone call centres and wait in queues or to go online.
“I will be challenging the Bank of Scotland on this unfathomable decision, particularly given that I have had recent correspondence with them over intended branch closures and no indication of this was given.”
Alexandria’s Bank of Scotland – the last remaining banking branch in the town – will close on March 2nd. The Helensburgh counter will pull down the shutters for the last time on March 5th.
The town will also be left without branch services following the closure of the Colquhoun Square branch of the Royal Bank of Scotland in November.
Industry specialists Link Group – who survey access to cash and ATMs in the public interest – have ruled that new banking hubs will be required both in Alexandria and Helensburgh, due to the planned closures causing a “significant impact”.
The agency, which works with the banking sector, government and regulators, found that there would be a “gap” in cash access services in the affected towns and ordered provision of banking hubs with an ATM, to ensure access to cash deposit and withdrawal services.
Jackie added: “I welcome Link’s report and the plan to introduce Banking Hubs in Alexandria and Helensburgh. I know there will be local organisations that will work to make these a success and I will do everything I can to support them.”
Jackie can be furious all she wants but branches are closing. And there is nothing she can do.
Her sentiments are correct about folk.liking branches, but time, technology and economics have moved on.
We are moving to a cashless society and for the most part the punters love it. Just look at the folks paying by plastic or by a bank app on their phone.
They have no need for cash. The banks will look after them. Cash is old hat. Who needs it
And when the time comes to shut you down, as came the time when the truck protesters in Canada had their driving licences, bank accounts and credit cards suspended by the Candian Government for protesting, we can do the same.