RBS closure that’s turning town into a no-go zone for cash
‘Inadequate facilities’
A CAFE owner is taking only card payments after the closure of an RBS branch left him facing a 60-mile round trip to deposit cash. Mike Haggerton says he regrets the move but the only other option is a two-hour trip from The Habitat Café in Aberfeldy, Perthshire, to bank his takings in Perth.
He informed customers of the change with a sign at the café following RBS shutting its doors yesterday. He said he had no option if he is to continue trading because he would be left ‘without adequate banking facilities’.
A mobile RBS branch is due to visit Aberfeldy every Monday for one hour and 45 minutes but the services available are limited. Mr Haggerton’s sign stated: ‘RBS is closing over 60 branches across Scotland, leaving rural communities without adequate banking facilities.
‘This means that to deposit takings we would have a two-hour-and-45minute round trip to Perth.
‘We don’t want to go cashless but RBS has left us with no option if we want to continue trading and employing people. Thank you for understanding.’
Mr Haggerton was on holiday yesterday and unavailable for comment.
Mike Williamson, an SNP councillor for Perth and Kinross Council, fears other small businesses will be forced to follow suit. He said: ‘When I look at the round trip they face and the cost that incurs I’m not surprised at all. The mobile bank can only deposit a limited amount and even then, queuing up in the street holding cash is a security issue.
‘I think we will see more of this coming. I expect people to look for a simpler solution than weekly trips to Perth.’
While understanding the difficulties, Mr Williamson also pointed out that many visitors to Aberfeldy are tourists, who may only be able to pay in cash that they have already exchanged.
He said: ‘I am concerned about the impact this will have but it is completely the fault of the bank and the Government for not stepping in. If people come from abroad they are likely to have changed all their money into pounds before they get here – not being able to pay cash is going to be useless for them.
‘It’s not good enough for RBS to abandon their customers and local businesses like this and the government is just as bad for effectively shrugging their shoulders and letting this happen.’
The only remaining bank in Aberfeldy is TSB.
Banks in Pitlochry, Kinross and Perth South Street are among those being axed across the country, although ten more, including a branch at Comrie, have been granted a stay of execution.
An RBS spokesman said the decision to close branches was made after an ‘extensive review’ and it was seeking to ensure that customers could access a face-to-face services.