SNP MSPs have called for an urgent meeting with the Chief Executive of TSB after it was announced that the bank is to close 73 branches in Scotland.
A "significant change in customer behaviour" and increased online banking drove the decision that will see 300 jobs cut, the bank said.
The closures, set to begin in early 2021, represent more than half of the TSB branches currently operating in Scotland.
READ MORE: Hundreds of jobs on the line as TSB cuts branches in Scotland
TSB said it would "continue to invest in its 62 remaining Scottish branches over the next two years to radically improve the customer experience".
Following the announcement, a group of SNP MSPs have now written to the Chief Executive of TSB, calling for an urgent meeting to discuss the impact of these closures on local communities, and urge the bank to reverse its decision.
Kenneth Gibson MSP, who raised the closures at First Minister's Questions, said: "This is deeply concerning news, which will come as a shock to many who rely on their local TSB branch.
“Closing local bank branches amidst a global pandemic, when people need financial advice and support more than ever, is not just an inconvenience. Every one of these branches is hugely important to the community it serves.
READ MORE: Is your TSB closing? Full list of 73 Scots branches shutting as campaign groups protest
"The threat of closure to a huge number of branches across the country will come as a shock to many who depend on a face-to-face service – but we are determined to fight to keep every one of them open.
“Alongside my SNP colleagues, I have requested an urgent meeting with the Chief Executive of TSB regarding the future of services in Scotland. TSB must urgently reverse their plans to close these branches."
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel