Royal Bank of Scotland closures: The Scottish branches that face being shut down

ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND is to close 259 branches across the UK.

The state-backed lender, 72% owned by the taxpayer, will axe 62 RBS branches and 197 NatWest outlets.

Royal Bank of Scotland to close hundreds of branches resulting in 680 job losses

Several Scottish MSPs have criticised the decision.

Unacceptable that RBS plan to have no branches in Highland Perthshire with proposed closures in Pitlochry and Aberfeldy. Must reconsider.

— John Swinney (@JohnSwinney) December 1, 2017

Gail Ross, SNP MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross said: “Deeply disappointed to hear of the closure of several RBS branches in my constituency.

“Even if more people are banking online, these branches are still used by many people, including community groups. Disgraceful timing 3 weeks before Xmas.”

East Lothian Labour MSP Iain Gray said:”This is disastrous news for Dunbar and North Berwick and a betrayal of loyal, local RBS customers. I know local people in both towns will be very angry about the decision and I fully understand and share that anger. That is why I have already raised the matter in the Scottish Parliament.

“I believe all banks, including RBS, should have a responsibility to communities and their customers who have used their services over many years. Unfortunately, this latest decision, coming so soon after the Prestonpans closure, suggests their only calculation is the financial bottom line.”

An RBS spokesperson said: “More and more of our customers are choosing to do their everyday banking online or on mobile. Since 2014 the number of customers using our branches across the UK has fallen by 40% and mobile transactions have increased by 73% over the same period. Over 5 million customers now use our mobile banking app and one in five only bank with us digitally.

“We’re providing our customers with more ways to bank than ever before – they can choose from a range of digital, to face-to-face options. As customers continue to change the way they bank with us, we must change the way we serve them, so we are investing in our more popular branches and shaping our network, replacing traditional bricks and mortar branches with alternative ways to bank, including; Community Bankers, Mobile Bank on Wheels, and Post Offices, so that we can reach even more customers.”

 

Here is a full list of the Scottish branches that are likely to close:

Aberdeen Bridge of Don

Aberfeldy

Airdrie

Alloa

Annan

Aviemore

Banff

Bannockburn

Beauly

Bellshill

Biggar

Bonnyrigg

Bridge of Allan

Campbeltown

Carnwath

Castlebay

Comrie

Douglas Lanarkshire

Dunbar

Dunblane

Dundee Stobswell

Duns

Dyce

Ellon

Eyemouth

Glasgow Business Centre

Grantown-on-Spey

Gretna

Hamilton Cadzow Street

Hawick

Huntly

Inveraray

Inverness Queensgate

Jedburgh

Kilbirnie

Kilwinning

Kinross

Kyle

Langholm

Larkhall

Lesmahagow

Linlithgow

Lockerbie

Mallaig

Melrose

Montrose

Nairn

North Berwick

Penicuik

Perth South Street

Pitlochry

Renfrew

Rothesay

Saltcoats

Selkirk

Stepps

Strathaven

Tain

Tannochside

Tongue

Turriff

Wick

 

 

These closures follow Bank of Scotland’s announcement earlier this month that the following branches are to be axed:

Alva

Bridge Of Allan

East Carnoustie

Dalmuir

Denny

Edinburgh Piershill

Giffnock

Scotstoun

East Lochgelly

South West Prestwick

Stirling Munro Road