Proposed CD bank closure sparks anger

MAJOR High Street banks have been accused of “highway robbery” over plans to axe more branches, including Castle Douglas. The town’s branch of the Bank of Scotland is one of 13 marked for closure next year, with owners Lloyds Banking Group insisting the move reflects the way banking had changed with many people now managing their money online. But the decision has infuriated the area’s politicians, as Galloway and West MSP Finlay Carson insists they are now ignoring their ‘grass-root customers’ in search of bigger profits. He said: “I know a lot of elderly people who are reluctant to switch to online banking for fear they don’t have proper control of their money. “Others in the more remote rural areas in my constituency still do not have access to proper wi-fi facilities so are automatically excluded from banking online. “It is incredibly disappointing to see a major bank pull out of Castle Douglas, a major market town where the branch has traditionally served the agricultural community for over a century.” Castle Douglas and Crocketford cllr Pauline Drysdale has warned the closure of branches across the region is now impacting even more customers than before. She said: “A number of Bank of Scotland customers in the west of region moved their accounts to the Castle Douglas branch when their branches closed. “Now they are facing a double whammy as that branch is now up for closure in the coming months. At the moment there is no alternative available – either go online or forget it and we need this rectified urgently. “This is an unacceptable way to treat customers, many of whom have been with the same bank for countless numbers of years,” The Bank of Scotland said all staff members at the closing branches would be offered a role in another part of the business.

A spokesperson said: “The way people are banking has changed as many customers are managing their money through our app. “Alongside our app, customers can use any Bank of Scotland, Lloyds or Halifax branch, the Post Office or banking hubs for their everyday banking.”