Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Bank branch to close its doors next summer
Coatbridge’s branch of TSB will close its doors next summer – after the bank announced the closure of 164 branches across the UK next year with the loss of nearly 900 jobs.
The Main Street branch will shut on June 10, 2021, with officials saying the decision was made following “careful” review which revealed that “at this branch, 84 per cent of personal and 75 per cent of business customers now choose to use another branch or channel instead”.
Its four staff were informed last week of the decision to close in eight months’ time; customers will be directed to the nearest TSBS at Motherwell, Cumbernauld and Shettleston, as well as Post Offices in Coatbridge town centre.
Howe v e r, C o a t b r i d g e ’ s parliamentarians are battling to save the local bank, saying they are asking officials to “rethink” the decision and will be arranging meetings to outline their views.
Posting on his Facebook page, Steven Bonnar MP said: “Very disappointed to see TSB plans to close its branch in Coatbridge; I will be requesting a meeting to discuss this and press for a rethink.
“It’s an especially poor decision at a time when we require new life in our town centres and support for the businesses already under such stress due to forced closures; not to mention customers who for whatever reason cannot bank online and will be left ostracised by this.”
Constituency counterpart Fulton Macgregor MSP shared his party colleague’s disappointment and said he too will be contacting TSB “right away, urging them to rethink this decision”.
He said: “This would be another blow to our town centre and local jobs, especially as we are in the midst of a pandemic”, and added: “Any constituents directly affected, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.”
Coatbridge is among 73 Scottish branches of TSB which will be closing in the next year, nearly half of the bank’s 151 premises in Scotland – and older people’s charity Age Scotland says it is “appalled” by the announcement.
They fear “it will leave older, vulnerable customers out in the cold”, with chief executive Brian Sloan saying: “The relentless push towards online or telephone banking may be convenient for many, but it doesn’t suit everyone.
“Almost half a million people over 60 don’t use the internet, with the highest numbers in the most deprived areas; those who rely on branches most tend to be older, disadvantaged, or on low incomes, and may not find it easy to travel to the next town to do their banking.”
TSB say that two- thirds of its customers now use mobile, online or phone banking, and that there has been “a significant shift in customer behaviour” which was seen “even prior to Covid-19”; the locations chosen for closure “have been selected to ensure 94 per cent of customers can travel in 20 minutes or less to a branch”.
Chief executive Debbie Crosbie said: “Closing any of our branches is never an easy decision, but our customers are banking differently, with a marked shift to digital banking.
“We are reshaping our business to transform the customer experience and set us up for the future – this means having the right balance between branches on the high street and our digital platforms, enabling us to offer customers the very best experience.”
The bank says it plans to enhance its digital services and set up partnerships including with the Post Office to deal with cash transactions.