End of era as last High Street bank in Badenoch and Strathspey to close
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The last standing bank branch in Badenoch and Strathspey is to close its doors next Spring.
The Bank of Scotland in the centre of Aviemore is to shut for good in May signalling the end of High Street banking in the strath.
The decision leaves the strath without any dedicated branch, and is the culmination of a series of branch closures which have hit the area since the mid 2010s.
The RBS closed its two branches – in Aviemore and Grantown – fives years ago.
At that time Grantown had three branches on the High Street with also a Bank of Scotland and TSB
Bank of Scotland bosses have said they will continue to provide a limited facility in Aviemore with a 'community banker' and a new 'deposit solution' will be trialled.
It is not yet know what will happen to the cashpoint but they usually close along with branches meaning Aviemore will lose another village centre option to get cash.
The Bank of Scotland has announced at the same time that its branch in Fort Augustus will also close but earlier – this October.
A spokesperson said: "We will be closing our Bank of Scotland branches in Fort Augustus and Aviemore. The branches will be closing in October 2023 and May 2024 respectively.
"However, we will not be leaving the community and a community banker will be provided in both locations to support our customers. A new deposit solution is also being piloted in Aviemore.
"A community banker will have set hours in a space in the local area, such as a library. They will be there to spend time with customers helping them with their banking enquiries.
"We will be setting up this new service shortly....
"To further help local people with their banking, LINK – the cash machine network – will also be piloting a new facility that will allow people to deposit cash in Aviemore.
"We will be writing to customers shortly."
The Bank of Scotland has said their customers are increasingly using online and mobile banking to manage their money.
According to their own figures, 119 customers used the Aviemore branch regularly in the 12 months to January 2023.
The spokesman said; "We have over 20 million digital users and visits to some branches have fallen by as much as 73 per cent over the last five years.
"We have more than 40,000 customers in the constituency but very few of our customers are using these branches on a regular monthly basis. We have to respond to this changing behaviour.
"We recognise our branches will continue to be important to some of our customers, alongside banking services available in the Post Office, and telephone, mobile and online banking services.
"All customers who regularly use these branches will receive a letter with details of alternative ways to bank with us. We will also try and speak to our vulnerable customers, either in the branch or over the phone, and discuss how else we may be able to help."
There could be job losses despite the current staff being offered positions elsewhere within the company. The nearest Bank of Scotland branches to the strath are in Inverness – on Harbour Road and in the city's Eastgate Centre.
The spokesman said: "Our colleagues who work at the branches will be offered the chance to move to a role at other branches or in another part of our business."
The Aviemore branches current opening hours are Monday to Friday 10am to 3pm.
What do you think about the demise of High Street banking and this closure? Let us know in comments or at editorial@sbherald.co.uk
