The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
TSB reveals plans for new pop-up banks
The TSB has bowed to public pressure and agreed to open several pop-up banks across the country – including in Tayside and Fife.
And there was delight yesterday when the TSB agreed to launch a mobile adviser service based at Anstruther town hall.
Locals launched a campaign last year after the bank announced it was closing its Anstruther branch – the last remaining bank in the East Neuk.
More than 400 people signed a petition calling for a rethink.
Anstruther was one of seven branches in Fife due to close last month.
The new service be up and running week.
The move follows a series of meetings with Liberal Democrat politicians who have been campaigning for local banking hubs in a bid to maintain services in communities that have lost their branches.
North East Fife MP Wendy Chamberlain will this has welcomed the announcement. She said the loss of the East Neuk service was a blow to older people in particular.
“I am delighted that those who rely on in-person services will still be able to access these in Anstruther on a regular basis,” she said.
Pop-up services will also be available in Blairgowrie, which was one of three Perthshire towns to lose its TSB branch as part of the bank’s plans to cut 73 branches in Scotland.
Willie Rennie, Liberal Democrat candidate in the forthcoming Scottish Parliament elections, also welcomed the news.
“These services are at the heart of most communities and maintaining their presence is a way of supporting those who still rely on them,” he said.
“As we emerge from the pandemic we need a needle-sharp focus on recovery.
“Only by putting local communities first can we ensure our local communities thrive.”
TSB’S director of branch banking, Carol Anderson, said in-person banking was still important.
“Although we’ve seen a significant rise in customers using digital banking, we know accessing banking services and cash remains important to many customers and we’re always looking for innovative and inclusive ways to help them,” she said.
“The pop-up service will support our customers in parts of the country where it takes longer to get to a branch.”
The news comes as new ways to boost access to cash are launched.
A collaboration between the Post Office and high street banks is among a number of trials.
A counter operated by the Post Office would offer basic banking and cash withdrawals and deposits.
They will also allow face-to-face banking services, provided by the banks which have the most customers in each area.