West Lothian has been dealt a bitter blow as job losses were announced at a local bank branch.
The Bank of Scotland said yesterday that its branch at East Main Street in Broxburn will close on August 9.
The announcement put jobs at risk and means people will have to travel further to do face-to-face banking.
MSP Fiona Hyslop has contacted Bank of Scotland to express her concerns about the closure of the branch.
She said: “Many customers will of course use internet banking, particularly over the last two years during the Pandemic, but a large portion of the town’s residents, mainly older people or those with young children, cannot always make the 11 mile round trip – which depending on the time of day can take up to 90 minutes there and back - to the nearest branch in Livingston and so really rely on having a banking service in their town.
“Indeed, many small businesses will also need to make business deposits and closure of their local branch will impact on how they trade.
“With Royal Bank of Scotland and TSB closing their branches already in Broxburn, the local community depends on bank of Scotland for their personal banking needs and I have expressed this strongly in my letter to the Head of Bank of Scotland as well as highlighting the implications this closure will have on their customers and the local community.”
Bank of Scotland, Halifax and Lloyds are to close 60 branches across the UK - with 19 to shut in Scotland.
Parent company Lloyds Banking Group said the decision was made as the number of customers now using online banking reached an all-time high this year.
Vim Maru, group retail director, Lloyds Banking Group said: “Just like many other high street businesses, fewer customers are choosing to visit our branches.
“Our branch network is an important way for us to support our customers, but we need to adapt to the significant growth in customers choosing to do most of their everyday banking online.”
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