RBS to close nine Edinburgh branches

The bank still 73 per cent state-owned lender said the move was in response to the popularity of online banking.

The Unite union, which represents RBS branch workers, said there was bitter disappointment at the news which puts 45 jobs at risk and affect a total of 116 staff.

The branches affected include Blenheim Place, which will shut at the end of May 2017, Gilmerton, Juniper Green, Comiston, Davidson Mains, Portobello, Edinburgh University, Castle Street and Chesser, all of which will shut in June next year.

RBS has closed 52 of its Scottish branches between August last year and August this year and this week it was revealed that it had been the only one of the UK’s major banks to fail the latest round of Bank of Enlgand stress tests – eight years on from its £45 million rescue by the taxpayer.

Unite regional officer Lyn Turner said the branch closures were “devastating news” and warned: “If you take into account the failure of the stress test, and the way they have to get out of it by cutting a further £2 million, that only means deeper cuts and more job losses.”

A spokesman for RBS said the bank would be communicating with customers to allow them to “consider the right banking options for them” following the announcement.

He added: “We know that not all of our customers are comfortable and familiar with using online or mobile banking, so we have created a new specialist taskforce of digital experts who will be dedicated to supporting our customers with training and support with digital skills.”

Continuing her accusation that the bank was taking a “slash and burn approach” to community branches, Unite regional officer Lyn Turner added: “This is obviously further bad news for RBS staff - all of whom are now living with the daily fear that their job might be next - but it’s also bad news for customers.

“RBS isn’t being upfront and honest about the changes it wants to make - but spreading them out in a way that risks a death by a thousand cuts.

“Our fear is that management are gambling with the future of the bank. If RBS continues to turn its back on customers and communities, then customers and communities may end up turning their back on them.”