Bank Branch Closures Betray Scottish Communities.

Thanks to Gareth Edwards at The Scotsman for his excellent article.

Gareth’s work exposes how the Scottish public have been betrayed by the Big Five Banks in general and, in particular, Charlie Nunn and his Lloyds Banking Group.

Lloyds Banking Group own what they call the “ Bank of Scotland brand” and have closed around 80% of the “brands” branches since 2010.

It is important to understand that this is NOT like a brand of cola disappearing from a supermarket shelf, with an easy alternative on the shelf below - 200 plus communities, both rural and urban, have been permanently robbed of local access to in-person banking services by a greedy and uncaring Bank Board.

Hundreds of thousands of Scots now face long return journeys to get the in-person banking services they WANT and DESERVE.

The notion that only 5 million adults in the UK need in-person community banking services - a flawed notion hyped by LINK Scheme Ltd and others - is risible.

Research by Post Office Ltd has revealed that approaching 70% of the public had used in-person banking services in the last month.

How much higher would this percentage be if many members of the public did not now face long and expensive travel to get to their nearest branch?

Let’s hope Richard Lloyd reflects the reality of the banks betrayal of the Scottish public in his Access to Banking Services Review for HM Treasury.

But if Richard fails to do so, neither the Scottish public - or UK public in general - need be too concerned.

We will still be here, making you our Number One priority…

Source: scotsman.com/scotsman-money/access-denied-how-bank-branch-closures-are-cutting-off-services-9305844