Disability activists query bank closures

DISABILITY and rural campaigners have written to a watchdog questioning if RBS closure plans breach equalities legislation.

Scottish Rural Action and Disability Equality Scotland have joined Scottish Government minister Jeane Freeman to seek clarity on the legal status of the bank’s plans to close more than 50 branches across Scotland.

The campaigners have written to the Equality and Human Rights Commission to ask if the proposals would be in breach of the Equalities Act 2010.

RBS, which is majority owned by the taxpayer, has given a temporary reprieve until the end of 2018 to 10 of the 62 branches it plans to close, commissioning an independent review on their long-term future.

Disability Equality Scotland said the RBS proposals to replace some branches with visits from mobile bank vans is not adequate for many disabled people.

Morven Brooks, Disability Equality Scotland chief executive, highlighted the organisation’s poll which found 81 per cent of respondents said mobile banking was not suitable nor them.

She said: “Our members had very genuine concerns over the impact these proposed closures will have on disabled people – specifically the introduction of inaccessible and inconvenient mobile banks, which do not provide the service disabled people are entitled to.”

Emma Cooper, Scottish Rural Action chief executive, said: “It comes as no surprise to see that RBS has failed to consider some of its most vulnerable customers”