Scotland Loses a Third of Bank Branches in Eight Years

That the Parliament is concerned by the analysis carried out by Which? that highlights that over a third of Scottish bank branches have closed in just eight years; understands that consumers and businesses alike could struggle to access cash across the country as a result of these closures; considers that this is a particular worry for those living in rural communities and people with limited mobility; notes that the Dumbarton constituency has not been immune to these closures with a number of branches, most recently those of the Royal Bank of Scotland, having closed; condemns Santander’s decision to close its Helensburgh branch, which it considers means customers now have to make a 40-mile round trip to a Glasgow branch of the bank if they wish to speak to a member of Santander staff; calls on the UK and Scottish governments to offer more support to members of the public who are facing difficulties as a result of these closures, and demands that the banks rethink their decisions and stop the closures.