Swinney calls on RBS to rethink closure of constituency’s branch

Scotland’s Finance Minister and Deputy First Minister John Swinney has appealed to 73 per cent taxpayer-owned Royal Bank of Scotland to reconsider its decision to close its branch in the town of Alyth in his Perthshire North constituency.

Mr Swinney said he was disappointed by the bank’s announcement that it will close the doors of the branch from November 18.

The MSP said the move was “very sensitive” and comes a blow for residents who were still recovering from recent flooding .

He said: “I am very disappointed by the RBS decision, and particularly regret the timing of this announcement as the town tries to recover from very damaging flooding.

“While I recognise that people are more frequently using digital banking, I am very concerned by the reduction in access to banking services this decision represents.

“I have already made representations to RBS to change their decision as I think it is very insensitive to the needs of Alyth. RBS has agreed to consider the concerns I have raised.”

The Edinburgh-based lender, which was bailed-out by the UK taxpayer to the tune of £45 billion in 2008, recently announced a whole host of branch closures across Scottish towns and cities.

A spokesman for RBS said it had taken the “difficult decision” to close its Alyth branch in response to declining use by customers. The number of transactions carried out at the branch has fallen 15 per cent since 2011 and only 50 customers use the premises on a regular weekly basis, he said.

It comes against a wider trend towards online and mobile transactions, which have tripled among RBS customers since 2010.

Customers will be able to visit the RBS branch in Blairgowrie and the nearest Post Office, both 5.5 miles from Alyth, to carry out transactions in person.