Bank of Scotland to shut Grantown branch

Grantown is to lose its Bank of Scotland branch in June.

The shock news came this afternoon in a package of closures across Britain.

Lloyds Banking Group has announced plans to shut 56 of it local branches.

The company said 31 Lloyds, 10 Halifax and 15 Bank of Scotland branches will go.

It said the bank branches will close between April and October 2020.

Staff numbers will be cut by "under 80" with bank chiefs saying many employees will be redeployed to other branches.

A Lloyds Banking Group spokesperson said: "We are committed to having the largest branch network in the UK and, in addition to our branches, all our customers can also use the Post Office to access their banking locally, alongside our mobile branches which visit many rural communities.

"This is in response to changing customer behaviours and the reduced number of transactions being made in branches."

The 'closing branch review' for Grantown bank outlines the timescale and reasoning.

It states: "This branch will close on June 22, 2020

"Our customers’ needs are changing. Nearly 16 million people now bank with us through Internet Banking and over 10 million use Mobile Banking. Branches will remain vital in meeting customers’ needs but we must continually review our network to make sure we have branches in locations where customers need and use them the most.

"As a result, we’ve made the difficult decision to close this branch because customers are using it less often. In addition the majority of customers are also using alternative ways to bank.

"You can continue to use any other Bank of Scotland branch and the nearest alternative is the Aviemore branch.

"There will also be a new Mobile Branch service visiting the Grantown-on-Spey area.

"You can also use your local Post Office® for many everyday banking transactions.

"We’ll still be here to support you, and there are other ways you can continue to do your banking."

The review states that 49 per cent of personal customers using Grantown have also used other Bank of Scotland branches and 71 per cent have also used other Bank of Scotland branches, inter or telephone banking.

Around 30 per cent of the Grantown branch customers have also used the Post Office

It adds: "Counters at the Grantown branch are 18 per cent quieter than a year ago."

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