Bank offers mobile service

Bank of Scotland has revealed its plans to compensate for branch closures with an expanded mobile service.

Aberlour, Cullen, Fochabers and Portsoy were among 11 places in the north-east told in the summer their branches would shut.

The bank was warned by critics including Moray MPA ng us Robertson that only a “high-quality" replacement would be acceptable amid concerns of the impact on small businesses and other customers.

Underthe proposals, a new vehicle is being brought in to provide extra stops and more extensive services, a spokesman said.

It will stop three times aweek at Fochabers and twice at Aberlour, matching the number of days those branches were open.

Cullen and Portsoy will be visited only once a week, despite their branches at present opening for two days.

Each visit will last two hours, meaning the total time banking is available across the four areas more than halves from 35.5 to 14 hours.

Bank of Scotland insisted the branches are underused, with only 30 regular customers between them. The branches close at the end of November.