Royal Bank of Scotland’s impending closure of six branches north of the Border has been firmly in focus.
NatWest, owner of Royal Bank, said these branch closures, due to take effect in September, will be the “last until at least 2029” when it announced them on June 5.
And NatWest said of itself: “As it completes this programme and continues to work towards the delivery of a sustainable branch network offering further support for communities, the bank will invest a further £50 million across its UK network over 2026/2027. This will focus on modernising existing locations, improving customer experience and ensuring colleagues are equipped to provide high quality, in-person support."
The branches being closed are at Giffnock in East Renfrewshire, Milngavie in East Dunbartonshire, Motherwell, Arbroath, Biggar and Castle Douglas.
One aspect of NatWest’s June 5 press release on branches really grabbed the attention and formed the basis of one of my columns in The Herald last month.
This aspect brought to mind the Mr Topsy-Turvy creation of Roger Hargreaves.
My column observed: “This character from the Mr Men children’s book series created by Roger Hargreaves might, you would imagine, have been proud of the bank’s press release on branches.
“This missive from Royal Bank of Scotland and its owner, NatWest Group – which is, incidentally, the other way round from how it used to be on those two big brands, following a renaming in 2020 from the former to the latter at parent company level – seemed back to front. Or upside down. Or perhaps both.
“The headline on the press release, in bold, larger type, was: “Royal Bank of Scotland commits to no further branch closures until at least 2029.”
“That sounded great, if perhaps a touch surprising given the relentless slew of branch closures we have seen in recent years, not just at Royal Bank of Scotland but at most of the big high-street banks.”
The column noted that “while the commitment from Royal Bank to no further branch closures would certainly be a big change for the institution, it was not out of the question”.
And it noted: “And all seemed rosy in the two bullet points immediately under the headline.
“The first of these was: ‘NatWest Group commits £50m to modernise and upgrade UK branch network over the next 18 months.’
“Then the second bullet point read as follows: ‘Expansion of unique mobile branch network, with increase in stops, offering more face-to-face services in communities across Scotland.’
“So far, so good.”
However, the column went on to observe: “It then became clear that this was far from a universally positive announcement in the third bullet point, although only at the back end of it.
“The third bullet point went thus: ‘Long-term commitment marks conclusion of current programme of network changes as group announces six final closures in Scotland.’
“And there was the nub of the matter – ‘six final closures’.
“It was the sixth paragraph of the press release before these closures were detailed.”
The column concluded: “While it is good to hear Royal Bank and NatWest recognise the importance of in-person support - and their commitment on branches is at least something - surely the announcement of six further branch closures in Scotland in September is the big story here.”
It did not take long for a petition to be launched in an attempt to save the long-established Giffnock branch, on Fenwick Road, and for this to be signed by hundreds of people.
The petition on change.org, started by independent community campaigner in Giffnock and Thornliebank Allan Steele, states: “The Giffnock Branch of the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) is scheduled to close in September 2026. It is a cornerstone of the community of Giffnock and beyond.
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“The branch is used by many people and businesses, often with long queues showing how popular it is. It is also used by many local charities.”
It adds: “Too many local branches have been closed by the RBS. This is just another example of cost cutting and taking loyal customers for granted.
“The staff in the branch are excellent and are a credit to the RBS. We support them, as they have supported us through the years.
“RBS Giffnock must be saved for the sake of local community and economic life.”
Elsewhere last month, I reported exclusively on Prestwick Airport chief executive Ian Forgie’s decision to retire on June 30.
He highlighted the turning around of a roughly £3.5 million annual operating loss to a £3.5m profit since he joined around eight years ago, when I interviewed him at the airport on June 18.
Mr Forgie, who joined initially as chief financial officer, underlined the rapid growth in cargo volumes at the airport, which has been owned by the Scottish Government since it was rescued in a £1 purchase from previous owner Infratil of New Zealand in 2013.
He flagged his confidence in the continued growth and success of the airport, which is known officially as Glasgow Prestwick, under its incoming chief executive.
Mr Forgie is handing over the chief executive mantle to operations director Jules Matteoni, who has worked at the airport for about 33 years and has been heavily involved in the securing of major cargo business from and to China.
Commenting on his decision to retire, Mr Forgie said it was the “natural” time. He noted in this context that the third sales process for the airport in which he had been involved in eight years had concluded, without a deal, late last year.
Mr Forgie said of his job and the airport: “It gets in your blood. You have just got to say [to yourself] ‘you are [nearly] 62’, and I have a life outside here.”
He noted he had a 15-month-old grandson.
Mr Forgie also revealed passenger numbers rose by 11% to more than 600,000 in the year to March and highlighted potential for further growth with additional routes, including Turin, and greater flight frequencies.
He said that for passenger flights “the city centres are always going to be more attractive” but highlighted Prestwick Airport’s “west coast market”.
And, while flagging the scale of the growth achieved on the cargo side of the business, he voiced his belief that Prestwick Airport would “always” have passenger routes.
My column on the airport and the change of guard, the week after the interview, observed: Prestwick Airport’s chief executive is shaking off the remnants of laryngitis when I interview him in the boardroom, but that does not stop him waxing lyrical about this Scottish Government-owned asset’s successes.”
It concluded: “Laryngitis or not, it is hardly a surprise that Mr Forgie, albeit slightly hoarsely on occasion, has a great deal to say about Prestwick Airport’s achievements.
“And he leaves behind a great platform for further growth and success, with all the benefits that brings to the economy in Ayrshire and further afield.”
As part of The Herald’s major series last month, Glasgow: The next chapter, I revealed that Glasgow City Region has achieved a 7% rise in the number of foreign direct investment (FDI) projects in the latest five years, and associated capital expenditure and job creation have surged.
These increases, compared with the five years to April 2021, were revealed in new analysis of fDi Markets’ data by Glasgow City Council, in response to questions from The Herald.
In the five years to April 2026, Glasgow City Region recorded 149 FDI projects. This is up from 139 projects in the five years to April 2021.
Recorded FDI capital expenditure for the region in the latest five-year period was £3.66bn. This is up by 99% from £1.84bn in the five years to April 2021.
And the total number of FDI jobs for the five years to April 2026 totalled 9301. This is up 50% on the figure of 6188 for the previous five years.
This article was first published in The Herald's Business HQ Monthly supplement
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