RBS under pressure to keep branch open
MP backs residents’petition to force bank rethink
A Renfrewshire politician has demanded that RBS rethink plans to shut its Renfrew branch after hundreds of customers signed a petition calling for it to stay open.
MP Gavin Newlands was joined by concerned residents last week as he collected signatures asking the banking giant to keep the Canal Street site open.
The branch is one of 62 across Scotland earmarked for closure under the partly publicly owned bank’s plans to focus more on digital banking.
Mr Newlands, SNP MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, said: “The people of Renfrew are angry and disappointed by the decision of RBS to close their popular town centre branch. This has been evidenced by the number of local people and businesses who have signed my parliamentary petition to save this vital bank branch.
“Last Friday morning, along with community activists, I collected more signatures to this petition, hearing from local people about how this closure will impact on their ability to do their banking and pay their bills.
“In addition to locals, I spoke to one family who had come to use the Renfrew branch after attempting to use the Cardonald and Govan branches, both of which were closed.
“The people of Renfrew have shown loyalty to the RBS over the years, including helping to bail out the bank in 2008. RBS, which we as taxpayers still own, should now repay that loyalty by reversing the ridiculous decision to close the branch.”
Mr Newlands was joined by activist Sadie Currie, from Renfrew in gathering signature for the Parliamentary petition.
She said: “The RBS branch in Renfrew is an important service for many local people, particularly older people who are not as comfortable using online banking.
“The decision to move all their services to Paisley is also not suitable as there is no direct bus link to that branch, making it extremely difficult for older people and those with a disability to complete their banking.
“I hope the strength of feeling towards this decision by the people of Renfrew will force RBS to abandon their plans to close the branch.”
RBS said: “We are communicating with our customers affected by the closure and proactively contacting vulnerable customers and regular branch users.
“We have extended the time between announcing our decision and the branch closure to six months. This has been done so that we can ensure our customers have enough time to consider the right banking options for them and to give us time to support them one- to- one during the transition.”