Clydesdale Bank to close nine branches

NINE Clydesdale Bank branches across Scotland are to shut later this year.

The lender announced the news yesterday, following a review. Banks in Bishopbriggs, Cardonald and Coatbridge are affected, together with Blantyre, Bridge of Weir, Lanark, Prestwick, Hawick and Tain.

Seventeen branches under the Yorkshire Bank brand are also shutting. The closures will happen between July and September.

Clydesdale, which split from its Australian parent company earlier this year, said the announcement reflected the changing needs of customers, who want to access more day-to-day banking services quickly and outside normal hours.

The group has also announced that Saturday opening hours will be extended and that an extra 13 branches in Scotland will open on Saturdays by the end of the year.

Bosses say that, wherever possible, frontline branch staff will be found roles either within other branches or elsewhere in the organisation.

Steve Fletcher, from Clydesdale Bank and Yorkshire Bank, said: “I understand this will not be welcome news for those who use these particular branches.

“These are difficult decisions, but ones we must face as we try to keep up with the pace of change in the way people want to bank. We have to balance our investment to ensure we support demand across mobile, online and branch services.”