A HANDFUL of Scotland's busiest banks will break with a 144-year-old tradition next Monday - and open on a bank holiday.

Staff at three RBS branches in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen will be at work while thousands of other Brits enjoy a long weekend.

RBS and NatWest are opening a total of 34 branches across the UK on Monday, breaking with a tradition that dates back to 1871 when bank holidays first became law as a means of giving workers some time off.

The move meant that other businesses, dependent on banks, followed suit.

However, RBS and NatWest - a subsidiary of the RBS Group - have decided to trial the bank holiday opening.

Jane Howard, managing director of Branch and Private Banking for RBS and NatWest said: "Many of our customers have busy lives but are off work on a bank holiday. At a time where many people are thinking about buying a house, we're breaking with tradition and opening our busiest branches where our customers need us."

RBS will open its Glasgow city centre branch at 10 Gordon Street, its Edinburgh West End branch at 142/144 Princes Street, and its Aberdeen St Nicholas branch at 78 Union Street.