RBS set to close a quarter of branches in Scotland

Dozens of RBS branches in Scotland are to close under new plans. Picture: TSPL

RBS plans to close a quarter of its Scottish branches, it has been reported.

Sixty-two branches are under threat. If they are shut, 158 jobs would be lost.

The bank has said more customers are accessing services online or with mobile devices.

But the reports have been criticised by union leaders.

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Unite regional officer Lyn Turner said: “RBS’s 2016 annual report states that they want ‘to transform the bank into the number one for customer service, trust and advocacy’.

“What we have in 2017 is a plan which amounts to institutional financial vandalism on a scale which has never been seen in this country ever before.

“Customer service? Trust? Don’t make me laugh.”

He added: “This is not the Royal Bank for Scotland.

“It’s the Royal Bank for its top directors and executives filling their boots while they devastate local communities with bank closures and destroy hundreds of quality jobs.”

Unite Scotland deputy general secretary Mary Alexander commented: “RBS has forgotten about the many people in food bank Scotland who cannot afford to take the bus to their nearest banking facility or parents with small children who do not have access to a car.

“Nor do they care much about the elderly or those in poor health who cannot travel any distance to their nearest branch.”

An RBS spokesman said: “More and more of our customers are choosing to do their everyday banking online or on mobile.

“Since 2012 the number of customers using our branches in Scotland has fallen by 44 per cent.

“Only 1 per cent of our customers in Scotland now use a branch regularly while the number of regular mobile users has increased by 39 per cent since 2015.”

The spokesman added: “We expect these closures to result in around 158 redundancies. We realise this is difficult news for our colleagues and we are doing everything we can to support those affected.

“We will ensure compulsory redundancies are kept to an absolute minimum.”

The 62 branches on the closure list are:

Castlebay

Inveraray

Kyle

Mallaig

Pitlochry

Annan

Gretna

Langholm

Lockerbie

Glasgow Business Centre

Stepps

Airdrie

Bellshill

Biggar

Carnwath

Douglas (Lanarkshire)

Larkhall

Lesmahagow

Strathaven

Tannochside

Campbeltown

Kilbirnie

Kilwinning

Renfrew

Rothesay

Saltcoats

Hamilton Cadzow Street

Linlithgow

Alloa

Bannockburn

Bridge of Allan

Dunblane

Kinross

Bonnyrigg

Dunbar

Duns

Eyemouth

Hawick

Jedburgh

Melrose

North Berwick

Penicuik

Selkirk

Aberdeen Bridge of Don

Banff

Dyce

Ellon

Huntly

Nairn

Turriff

Comrie

Dundee Stobswell

Montrose

Perth South Street

Aviemore

Beauly

Grantown-on-Spey

Inverness Queensgate (business branch)

Tain

Tongue

Wick

Aberfeldy