When is a bank holiday not a bank holiday?

According to calendars and diaries, Monday, August 4 is a bank holiday in Scotland. While offices will be closed and there will be no mail deliveries on that day, the banks in Scotland will be open as usual, although they may not have many customers.

Information about the holiday on Monday, August 25 is also misleading as it is stated that this is a UK bank holiday but not one in Scotland. Anyone expecting to visit a branch in Scotland on that day will be disappointed, as they will find that doors are closed. The decision by Scottish banks to harmonise with those in England was for business reasons.

The confusion seems to be due to public holidays being designated as "bank holidays". It is misleading to the public and in many cases will result in customers being inconvenienced when they find closed doors in Scotland on Easter Monday and the last Monday in August.

Tom Stevenson

Stranraer