South Scotland MSP, Colin Smyth has warned that High Street bank branches could soon become a thing of the past outwith large towns and cities after Lloyds Bank, the owners of the Bank of Scotland, became the latest bank to announce they were axing local branches.

Lloyds Bank have announced the locations of 100 branches that it plans to close between July and October including 24 Bank of Scotland branches in Scotland.

Last month RBS and Natwest announced the closure of 158 branches across the UK, and in January HSBC announced further 62 closures. 

South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth said “The stream of closures announced almost every week now by the major banks is clearly showing no sign of stopping. At this rate having a bank branch on our High Street out with the large towns and cities will soon become a thing of the past. This is bad news for the loyal customers who still want to use their local branch but who in many cases will struggle to find one within any reasonable travel distance. But it is particularly devastating news for staff who face losing their jobs. As bank after bank closes, the options they have to find a new job in the banking sector diminish. We are also seeing yet more buildings, often older ones that have been banks for many years closing, blighting our High Streets.”

Beauly, Beith, Bonar Bridge, Coldstream, Dalbeattie, Dalry (Kirkcudbright), Dornoch, Edinburgh Goldenacre, Edinburgh North Morningside, Fortrose, Gatehouse, Glasgow 235 Sauchiehall Street, Gorebridge, Gullane, Helmsdale, Kingussie, Lairg, Lauder, Newtown St Boswells, Port William, Stewarton, West Linton, Wigtown and Wooler.