Moray SNP News

MSP RESPONDS TO BANK OF SCOTLAND DECISION TO PRESS AHEAD WITH

BRANCH CLOSURES – PLEA FOR STAY OF EXECUTION REJECTED

Lloyd’s Banking Group confirmed in a letter to Richard Lochhead MSP today that it has decided to press ahead with the closure of its Lossiemouth and Keith branches, despite strong public opposition.

Mr Lochhead said:

“The bank’s decision to press ahead with the closure of branches in Lossiemouth and Keith is a huge blow to our local communities – particularly in Lossiemouth where the last bank in the town is being closed. I don’t expect our communities to take this news lying down given the strength of feeling and given the impact on customers and local economy.

“It is now incumbent on the UK Government – who has responsibility for banking – to intervene and to take action particularly in Lossiemouth to prevent the closure of the last remaining branch in the community. 

“I will be discussing next steps in the campaign with our local communities and will continue to support them in any way I can to save their banks.

“It is of course ironic that the public bailed out these banks at their time of need and yet they refuse to return that support to our communities IN Moray with forty per cent of our high street branches being lost in Moray in recent years.”