Bank closure move sparks Crieff dismay
Bosses announce the Clydesdale is to shut in June
takings to deposit will be have to make other arrangements too.
“I will be pressing Virgin money as to whether there is a possibility of the ATM, at the very least, being retained.
Strathearn ward SNP councillor Stewart Donaldson added: “This is really bad news for Crieff, with yet another local bank branch to close its doors for good.
“To be honest I am not surprised but I am saddened. I am an ex-employee of the Clydesdale and my late father was the branch manager for many years of the Bank of Scotland in Auchterarder, whose closure was also announced recently, so I feel a personal connection to these closures.
“On the wider front it looks as though we are facing the loss, not only of the Clydesdale branch from Crieff, but also the Clydesdale Bank name, itself, as I see a re-branding to Virgin Money in the near future.
“I share the concerns Roseanna has expressed about those customers who will be most affected by this closure and echo her desire to seek an agreement on the future of the cash machine.”
Liz Smith, Conservative MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, said there are “deepseated” concerns among residents in Crieff, and said she has highlighted these to bank officials.
She said: “This is desperately worrying news, most especially for towns where there has only been one banking facility.
“It will undoubtedly have a detrimental impact on local businesses and many residents who live in the more remote rural areas.
“Just like similar issues recently faced by Comrie, these decisions are not taken on the basis of full consultation with the local community and they remove yet another crucial facility from a town.”
Virgin Money UK, which Clydesdale Bank is a part of, has said it intends to find alternative roles for its employees at the Crieff Clydesdale, but added they may be at risk of redundancy.
In total, Virgin Money UK is expecting to cut around 500 full-time equivalent positions this year.
Lucy Dimes, group business transformation officer at Virgin Money UK, said: “The decision to close branches is never taken lightly.
“The changes announced today are focused on consolidating branches where there is another Clydesdale Bank or Virgin Money location within half a mile as well as closing a number of branches to reflect changes to customer demand.
“As our customers change the way they want to bank with us, we are evolving the role of our stores - investing in all of the ways that customers are choosing to bank with us, including a re-imagined Virgin Money presence on the high street.
“Following the unveiling of three new Virgin Money stores in December last year, the full re- brand of our national network of 166 stores begins in April and will be completed by September this year.”