MP’s talks with banks on closures proposals

John Nicolson, MP for Ochil and South Perthshire, has met with a bank director to discuss proposed bank closures.

He met with representatives of the Bank of Scotland after it was announced the branches in Kinross and Auchterarder were due to close.

The Bank of Scotland said these closures were a response to changing customer behaviours and the reduced number of transactions being made in branches.

Previously, the bank had advised affected customers to use their nearest post office to access their banking locally, or wait for a mobile branch to visit the area.

Speaking after his meeting with bank bosses, John Nicolson said:“I could not be more opposed to the decision of the Bank of Scotland to close these vital banking services in Kinross and Auchterarder.

“I understand that national evidence points towards a trend of customers moving away from traditional banking and towards online banking.

“However, I know first hand from family, friends and constituents who have spoken to me in the past few weeks just how important these branches are in day-to-day lives.

“Not everyone has access to online banking.

“And older customers and those with mobility challenges can’t always travel the extra distance to another branch.

“For many people, going into a branch is their only way of being able to manage their finances.”

Mr Nicolson has said during the meeting the bank confirmed there would be no forced redundancies as members of staff would be deployed to other nearby branches.