Clydesdale to close nine branches

The move by the recently floated CYBG will see total of 26 Clydesdale and Yorkshire Bank branches which are lapsed-lease or considered unsustainable close across the UK.

In Scotland branches at Bishopbriggs, Blantyre, Cardonald, Bridge of Weir, Coatbridge, Lanark, Preswick Main Street, Hawick and Tain will all close their doors.

Glasgow-based Clydesdale said that posters will be placed in each branch advising customers and written notification will be sent at least 12 weeks before each branch closes to remind customers of the alternative ways they can continue to manage their accounts including nearest branches, ATMs and Post Office counters - which all Clydesdale Bank customers can use for day-today banking.

Clydesdale said the move was the result of a review of its branch network that will see several changes to how, when and where it provides its services.

The Bank said today’s announcement “reflects the changing needs of customers who want to access more day-to-day banking services quickly, on the move and outside normal business hours”.

The Bank has already announced that it will launch a new banking service for tablets and smartphones this Spring called “B”.

Clydesdale said that B has “the added support of access to the banks’ branch network, underlining the continued importance of branches in the overall “omni-channel” strategy for supporting customers. The changes to the branch network will ensure it continues to deliver a sustainable service when and where there is greatest demand.

The lender also announced Saturday opening hours are to extend from 9.15am-1.15pm to 9.15am- 4.00pm and that an additional 13 branches in Scotland will open on Saturdays by the end of the year.

The 35 Clydesdale branches which will be open on Saturdays will create nearly 8,000 extra hours of weekend service for customers in Scotland each year, the bank said. It added that investment in branch technology will continue, with 100 additional ATMs across the UK, each with deposit functionality and further branch refurbishments including Falkirk, Dundee and Dumfries.

Steve Fletcher, head of customer banking networks, Clydesdale Bank and Yorkshire Bank, said: “I understand this will not be welcome news for those who use these particular branches. These are difficult decisions but ones we must face as we try to keep up with the pace of change in the way people want to bank. We have to balance our investment to ensure we support demand where it is greatest, across mobile, online and branch services.

“Branches remain vitally important to us, and we continue to invest in them, the services they offer and when we offer them. I hope that the investment we’re making in the overall quality of our branch network, the big increase in Saturday opening and the availability of other ways to bank, like local Post Office counters, will minimise the effect of this announcement for customers.”