Charity backs bank fight

A NATIONAL charity has joined the fight to save Moffat’s bank.

Age Scotland is backing the community’s campaign calling on Bank of Scotland to review the decision to close the town’s only branch.

The charity hosted a packed meeting of residents and customers in Moffat Town Hall last month to hear directly how individuals and businesses would be impacted by the closure.

Commenting this week, Age Scotland’s policy director Adam Stachura, who chaired the meeting, said: “It came through loud and clear at the meeting that the bank’s customers in Moffat really value their branch.

“We made the trip on the bus to Dumfries and experienced first-hand the lengthy journey customers will face in order to reach the nearest branch. This also relies on good public transport links existing, which we know are often subject to change.

“If the closure goes ahead, we are really concerned about those older people who are not online or not comfortable online and are finding banking digitally a huge challenge. A loss of in-person banking services is a real risk to their financial independence and security.

“We are urging Bank of Scotland to properly review their decision – come to Moffat, speak to customers who feel their voices have not been heard, and consider the impact on those who cannot undertake the alternatives they have presented.”

The charity joining the campaign has been welcomed by organiser, Evelyn Atkins, who commented : “I speak from experience as a 75 year old who to all intents and purposes am computer literate. Computers are evolving and changing at a rapid speed, banking apps get tweaked and we have to learn new skills, computer equipment and phones become obsolete and needs to be updated. Scams are becoming more sophisticated and a Robotic voice does not know me as a customer. Someone needs to remember that our thought process gets slower as we age and it become difficult to learn new skills.

“The world is changing and yes, I am aware that things need to evolve, but surely the Bank should look after their customers who have been loyal supporters of their ethos over the years, there is a need for face-to-face banking by bank staff who know their customers.

“These changes are far too drastic for those born in the 40’s 50’s and some of the 60’s, there needs to be some common sense to an approach that will leave the elderly vulnerable and financially insecure.”