Closure of bank branch confirmed
The Clydesdale bank branch in Crieff will close in September, it has been confirmed.
The branch had originally been scheduled to close in June, but was given a stay of execution due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
But the company this week said it would press ahead with the closure later this year.
Perthshire South and Kinross-shire MSP Roseanna Cunningham said she was “disappointed, though not surprised”.
She added:“There is no doubt that while the coronavirus pandemic may have temporarily slowed down the closure of this branch, it has also accelerated a shift in customer behaviour that was already moving very fast indeed away from the use of cash and in-branch banking.
“My immediate concern is for three particular groups – elderly and vulnerable customers, small businesses and, of course, the bank’s employees. I also want to know what the options might be for retention of ATM services in the town.
“For some customers, the prospect of travelling to Perth to do their banking or, instead, engaging with the bank using unfamiliar technologies may be daunting and I will be writing to Virgin Money seeking further details about how they intend to support those customers.
“While all businesses will have seen a massive increase recently in the percentage of transactions that are cashless, small local enterprises are the businesses most likely to be still taking cash and so hardest hit by the loss of yet another option for safely depositing their takings at the end of the working day.
“Most particularly, I want more information from Virgin Money about what this closure will mean for branch staff – will they be guaranteed redeployment elsewhere in the bank and what support are they being offered?”
Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Liz Smith said:“It remains bitterly disappointing that the Clydesdale Bank has decided to shut its doors in Crieff.
“Local people continue to be very upset by this move especially when the bank made little effort to engage with the local community and to explain what additional support can be provided to its customers.”