Major High Street banks have been accused of “highway robbery” over plans to axe more branches – including a local one.
Local constituency MSP Finlay Carson insists they are now ignoring their “grassroot customers” in search of bigger profits.
He claims the wishes and needs of elderly clients and those with special needs or disabilities are being systemically dismissed with little thought being given as to their financial requirements.
His attack comes after The Bank of Scotland confirmed it is to close a further 13 branches next year with Castle Douglas named on the hit list.
Owners Lloyds Banking Group announced the closures this week, insisting the move reflected in the way banking had changed with many people now managing their money online.
But this has been disputed by the Galloway and West Dumfries MSP who maintains many older or customers with special needs are being given little or no choice.
He said: “I know a lot of elderly people who are reluctant to switch to online banking for fear they don’t have proper control of their money.
“Others in the more remote rural areas in my constituency still do not have access to proper wi-fi facilities so are automatically excluded from banking online.
“It is incredibly disappointing to see a major bank pull out of Castle Douglas, a major market town where the branch has traditionally served the agricultural community for over a century.”
The local constituency MSP has written to LINK voicing concern that the decision appears to have focussed too narrowly on the Castle Douglas area.
He said: “This approach does not reflect the wider reality for communities in my constituency, particularly in towns such as Dalbeattie, the biggest town in the area, which currently has no banking facilities.
The closure of local branches has had a significant impact on rural communities, where access to cash remains essential for individuals and businesses. Limiting the assessment to Castle Douglas risks overlooking the cumulative effect of multiple closures across the region and the lack of sufficient alternative provision in nearby towns."
The Scottish Conservative and Unionist MSP together with his Conservative colleagues on Dumfries and Galloway Council maintain that many of the big banks have simply forgotten their roots.
Mr Carson added: “It is almost as if the main high street banks have managed to squeeze all the money out of their customers and are now using it to invest in banking services that will do little to help them.”
Councillors Pauline Drysdale and Ian Blake warned the closure of branches across the region is now impacting even more customers than before.
Councillor Drysdale said: “A number of Bank of Scotland customers in the west of region moved their accounts to the Castle Douglas branch when their branches closed.
“Now they are facing a double whammy as that branch is now up for closure in the coming months. At the moment there is no alternative available – either go online or forget it and we need this rectified urgently.’’
“This is an unacceptable way to treat customers, many of whom have been with the same bank for countless numbers of years,”
Councillor Blake said: “If this is the continuing trend it is inevitable that it is only a matter of time until the Royal Bank of Scotland closes as well.
“But before that we need to see a banking hub set up to avoid any cliff-edge for the many businesses that still depend on cash and for those where digital banking is not an option.”
The Bank of Scotland said all staff members at the closing branches would be offered a role in another part of the business.
A spokesperson said: “The way people are banking has changed as many customers are managing their money through our app.
“Alongside our app, customers can use any Bank of Scotland, Lloyds or Halifax branch, the Post Office or banking hubs for their everyday banking.”
