Highland bank closures a "really poor show".
Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant has said she is “extremely disappointed” about the Bank of Scotland’s Highland closure list, which includes Kingussie.
The capital of Badenoch is set to lose its one High Street bank in September, citing its continued use of Aviemore and the availability of Post Office services – in the week when the Post Office announced the moving of its dedicated Aviemore office into a newsagent’s.
Ms Grant is to take up the issue of the Bank of Scotland closures with bank chiefs in the hope of securing “a change of heart”.
“I could see the writing on the wall in 2015 when the bank ploughed ahead with reducing hours at its Bonar Bridge, Helmsdale and Dornoch branches against the local community’s wishes,” she said.
“It is another nail in the coffin for rural services and rural jobs and I am extremely disappointed.
“No doubt the bank will say it will be investing in digital services but many elderly customers do not like internet banking and particularly with so many scams doing the rounds, many people like to talk to bank staff face-to-face.
“And, many areas still have woeful Broadband connectivity.
“It really highlights the lack of investment that the big banks are making in the Highlands.
“It’s really a poor show.”
Unite the union has expressed anger over the proposed closures.
Lloyds Banking Group – which owns the Bank of Scotland brand – announced the closure of 54 branches across the UK, with the loss of 200 jobs.
But it is the impact on Highland communities that has enraged Unite regional officer Susan Robertson.
She said: "Kingussie, Helmsdale, Lairg, Dornoch, Bonar Bridge, Fortrose and Beauly are all to lose their Bank of Scotland branches.
"The loss of these long-established features of rural life - with accessibility for people living in remote locations, and people with disabilities - cannot be underestimated.
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"Add to that the potential loss of current and future employment, and it is no wonder that there is anger and concern.
"These Highland branches are the economic centre for the local community. Banks across the UK have closed 1,400 branches since 2014 and claim that customers prefer using technology to dealing with real people in real branches located on their local high street. Unite does not accept that."
Unite national officer Rob MacGregor said: "The industry must halt these endless branch closure programs and open its eyes to what these closures are doing to rural communities, disabled customers and the small business customers who depend on access to a local branch."
