Bank of Scotland defends its Bridge of Allan decision

Bank of Scotland has said customers affected by its Bridge of Allan closure can use an ATM at the nearby RBS – despite plans to remove it.

The Henderson Street branch is to close next month, along with the bank in Stirling’s Munro Road and the Denny branch, Glasgow Road. The bank on Stirling Street, Alva, will then follow suit in April.

Stirling MP Stephen Kerr said a letter he received from Bank of Scotland bosses demonstrates“sheer incompetence”.

In the letter they say that the decision to close the Bridge of Allan branch comes on the back of an analysis of its usage in the last few years.

They say that, at present, there are only 15 personal and business customers using the bank and 77 per cent of customers are now banking in other ways.

Customers, it is said, will have their accounts realigned to the Dunblane branch while the Post Office branch in Fountain Road can also be used for banking purposes.

In the letter, the Bank of Scotland goes on to say that there is a free-to-use ATM at the nearby RBS.

However, as reported in the Observer earlier this month, RBS is closing its Bridge of Allan branch and has already asked for planning permission from Stirling Council to remove this ATM – along with cash machines at their branches in Bannockburn and Dunblane.

Tory politician Mr Kerr said:“The quality of the response from Bank of Scotland is as poor as the one I received from RBS.

“There is no indication at all that there is any justification to close these branches. I am truly staggered at the sheer incompetence demonstrated in the letter where customers are directed to use an ATM at a the nearby RBS branch that is also faced with closure.”