Call for answers over decision to close Kirkcudbright's last bank

An MSP is looking for solutions over the choice to close the final financial institution in Kirkcudbright.

Lloyds Banking Group is closing 60 branches throughout the nation, with the Financial institution of Scotland within the Artists’ City set to close in August.

South Scotland SNP MSP Emma Harper has hit out on the transfer and has written to firm bosses asking them to clarify their resolution.

She mentioned: “When the information broke on Wednesday final week, I instantly contacted Financial institution of Scotland management to precise my concern and to ask what steps the financial institution has taken to liaise with employees impacted and people reliant on in-branch providers.

“Moreover, I requested the financial institution management to obviously set out what steps they're taking to make sure prospects impacted by this closure can nonetheless entry essential banking providers after the branches shut.

“I'm conscious of the evaluate of banking providers which was carried out by Financial institution of Scotland in 2021. This evaluate states ‘Over 18 million of our prospects financial institution with us on-line and over 13 million use cell banking’.

“Nevertheless, this isn't the case for most of the individuals who depend on the providers supplied on the Kirkcudbright department. That is an space with geographically larger numbers of older folks, a lot of whom don't use on-line or phone banking.”

When asserting the closure programme final week, the retail director for Lloyds Banking Group Vim Maru mentioned: “Identical to many different excessive avenue companies, fewer prospects are selecting to go to our branches.

“Our department community is a crucial method for us to help our prospects however we have to adapt to the numerous progress in prospects selecting to do most of their on a regular basis banking on-line.”

South Scotland Labour MSP Colin Smyth mentioned: “That is devastating information for communities and particularly the employees at branches going through the axe.

“My ideas are with them and their households and I will probably be urging the financial institution to do all they'll to help their employees discover different employment which is the very least they'll do.

“This spherical of department closures is the most recent within the dismantling of the native financial institution community and I actually do concern it's only a matter of time earlier than solely cities and the most important cities have any banks in any respect.”