Moray SNP News

MORAY SNP COUNCILLORS CONDEMN RBS BRANCH CLOSURES

EMERGENCY MOTION SUBMITTED TO COUNCIL

SNP Councillors in Moray have condemned the decision of RBS to close it’s branches in Forres and Buckie.

Buckie SNP Councillor Sonya Warren and Forres SNP Councillor Aaron McLean have submitted an emergency notice of motion for the final meeting of the Council, which takes place on Wednesday, condemning the decision and calling on the Council Convener to write to the RBS Chief Executive expressing the Council’s concerns over the community and economic impact of the announced closures.

Cllr Warren said:

“Buckie has just been hit with the closure of the Clydesdale Bank and to lose another major banking name in RBS is very concerning for the town. The banking staff are respected, hard working employees who provide significant support for personal and business banking customers alike.

“Buckie is continuing to grow and banking facilities are really important. With growth in work at the harbour and expansion of other commercial activity in the town this decision makes little sense to me. I am urging RBS to think again about these closures.

Cllr McLean said:

“We are now left with only 2 banks in Forres plus our local credit union which is unheard of compared to the situation even 10 years ago. I have already moved my account to the ones that have branches still in Forres and I would suggest to RBS that many customers in Forres will do the same if they want or need to visit a branch.

“Even those who are happy with online banking would, I’m sure, look into the many attractive deals with other online banks to switch accounts since they won’t have the personal service that the excellent staff at my local branch currently provide.”

Gordon McDonald, SNP Councillor for Buckie, said:

“This is another banking blow for Buckie following the recent Clydesdale decision and I am extremely disappointed that RBS is following the same route.

“People value their High Street banking services and there are many things that are simply not easy to do over the phone or on the internet. Mortgage advice, cash banking - especially for businesses - and banking for the significant number of folk that don’t have internet access are just a few examples. This decision is wrong and must be challenged.”