South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth has hit out at the UK Government as new figures show the number of bank branch closures across the South of Scotland.

Figures from Which? show that according to Westminster constituency, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale has seen a 43.5 per cent loss in the banking network since 2015; the Dumfries and Galloway region is sitting at 51.7 per cent; Kilmarnock and Loudoun was 45.5; East Lothian 50; Midlothian 64.3; Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk the highest in the south region at 68.8 per cent and Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock was 52.9 per cent.

These figures come on the back of the news that the Bank of Scotland plans to end its mobile branch services in dozens of towns and villages across Scotland next year, including in Dumfries and Galloway and Berwickshire.

The bank blamed low use of the banking vans in communities that have lost their traditional bricks-and-mortar branches in recent years.

Colin Smyth said: “Banking vans were introduced to serve communities which had lost their local bank branch, which at least meant that people had some access to banking in real life.

“To learn that this service is to be scaled back is really devastating news for small communities such as those in Wigtown in Dumfries and Galloway and Lauder in the Scottish Borders.

“Over the past few years, we’ve seen a dismantling of the local bank network and I really do fear it is only a matter of time before only cities and the largest towns have any banks at all.

“The axing of bank branches it is a long term trend. We have seen an utter dereliction of duty by the UK Government with their failure to bring in tougher rules before a bank can be closed, including an obligation on the banking sector to maintain at least one branch in every town.

“Bank branches should not be allowed to close without a proper consultation process and the final approval of the Financial Conduct Authority with a presumption against closure when a branch is the last in a town.

“Many banks including the Bank of Scotland are racking up the profits, but turning their backs on communities and they should not be allowed to get away with it.

“Labour has called for changes in the law by the UK Government requiring that banks must undertake consultation with all customers of the branch which it proposes to close and publish details of the reasons for closure, including financial calculations showing the revenues and costs of the relevant branch.

“The consultation should be overseen by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and closures would only be allowed with FCA approval.

“Labour has also urged the Scottish Government to do more to establish community hubs where banks, Post Offices and councils shared premises to cut costs.”