first minister nicola sturgeon

Communities across Scotland are rightly concerned about the impact the decision by RBS to close branches – including in some cases the last branch in the community – will have on businesses, employees, the elderly and vulnerable and all those who need access to banking services.

I know more and more of us do our banking on the internet or by phone but that isn’t an option for everyone. RBS and the banking industry need to think again.

Many older or vulnerable members of our communities rely on branches to do their banking, and while banks have a duty to support people to transfer to mobile or online banking, for many that simply won’t be something they feel safe or comfortable doing.

Equally, mobile and online banking doesn’t solve the problems of businesses, many of whom in rural communities will still take cash and who without local branches will now have to take significant time out of their working day to travel to the remaining branches to deposit their takings or to speak to someone if they need face to face business advice.

Since the decision by RBS was announced the Scottish Government has stood side-by-side with the communities and employees affected.

We have called on the UK Government – as the government responsible for banking, and as part owners of RBS – to step up to the plate.

We have asked them to establish and enforce a guaranteed minimum level of service provision for essential banking services, recognising the importance of continued access to banking for towns and communities across Scotland.

It was deeply disappointing this week to hear the Prime Minister continue to brush off my Westminster colleagues’ requests for the government to step in with party political attacks when she should have been standing up for the public interest.

The Scottish Government will continue to do everything it can to support affected staff and to identify solutions which will preserve access to essential banking services but ultimately it is only the UK Government who can act to stop these branch closures.