Bank of Scotland’s controversial decision to close its Dunblane branch was last week raised in Holyrood.
A petition has also been put together urging the bank to reconsider closing the High Street branch.
Lloyds Banking Group – who own Bank of Scotland – last month announced it intends to shut 19 BoS sites, including the Dunblane branch.
It pointed to the amount of people using online banking rather than branches.
The Dunblane bank is set to close on July 7 – following the loss of the TSB and RBS branches from the town in recent years.
At First Minister’s Questions last week Green Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Mark Ruskell pointed out that the closures would mark the loss of the last bank in Dunblane and would leave vulnerable people who require bank services having to travel miles to their nearest branch.
Responding, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she shared Mr Ruskell’s concerns and said that it was important that banks had to strike a balance between in-person and digital services.
She added that the Scottish Government had communicated these views to the banking sector.
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Mr Ruskell this week described Bank of Scotland’s decision as rash.
He said: “Not only will the sudden removal of in person services seriously impact vulnerable people who require face-to-face support, it is clearly completely out of step with our ambition to build 20 minute neighbourhoods, regenerate our high streets and ensure all communities have access to lifeline services.
“It’s completely unacceptable that people living in Dunblane will have a 12-mile round trip to visit their nearest branch in Stirling.
“It’s clear that the way we use our banking services has changed over the past months, but this rash decision from Bank of Scotland to close branches across Scotland is clearly not the answer.
“Now is the time to be investing in our high streets and town centres, not ripping away crucial services.”
Mr Ruskell’s colleague, Dunblane and Bridge of Allan councillor Alasdair Tollemache, has put together a Change.org petition urging the bank to think again.
By Tuesday morning this week the ‘Keep Bank of Scotland branch in Dunblane Open’ petition had more than 400 signatures.
Councillor Tollemache said: “It is vital that the bank changes its mind and the local bank stays open.
“I intend to hand over the petition later this week and express the community’s concern about this proposed closure and its wish to see the closure decision reversed.”
A Bank of Scotland spokesperson said last month: “Our branches are an important way for customers to get help with their everyday banking but, like many other businesses on the high street, fewer customers are visiting their local branch and are instead choosing to bank mainly online or on their phones.
“When our Dunblane branch closes in July customers can continue to bank with us at the local Post Office on Stirling Road which is a short walk away, as is the nearest free-to-use ATM.”
