Representatives of the business community in Perth and Kinross have said they would like to see the decision to close the RBS South Street branch reversed.
The Royal Bank of Scotland announced last week that around a quarter of its Scottish branches are to close next year, including the one on Perth’s South Street as well as branches in Kinross, Comrie, Pitlochry and Aberfeldy.
Alastair Taylor, from Charlie Taylor Hair and Beauty and co-chair of Perth Traders’ Association, said he understands why the decision has been made, but adds it is “far from ideal” for city centre businesses.
Mr Taylor said: “I understand why RBS are doing it. I spoke to the bank on Friday to find out the reason, and it is because of footfall, they said due to the rise of online banking, and I get that.
“We bank there on a daily basis and pick up our change there - the Dunkeld Road branch is not ideal because it is out of town, so we would prefer it for the South Street branch to remain open, and to close the Dunkeld Road branch because it is not local.
“Lots of traders like us use the South Street bank because you can just walk in.”
He continued: “If we could say one thing, yes we understand, but close Dunkeld Road and keep South Street open, that would be better.
“It is uncertain why they have chosen South Street, and if there is any option to reverse that decision we would support it, because from a traders point of view it is more useful to have a branch in the city centre.”
The closure of the South Street branch on June 27 2018 will leave a large site in the city centre empty, however Perth Traders’ Association want to see this as a positive for business in the Fair City.
Mr Taylor said: “If you look at the Post Office building [also on South Street], we now have a business expanding into it. So on the one hand, you don’t want to see an empty building, but it is an opportunity for another business to get a visible city centre site.
“It would be great to welcome a new business to this site in because you don’t want a building lying empty for any length of time.
“You have to look at this positively like at McEwens, look at it now - we have Beales which has been a very welcome addition for traders in Perth.”
See also: Five Perth and Kinross RBS branches to close
He added: “Our business uses the South Street bank on a daily basis and I can’t expect someone to go all the way out to the Dunkeld Road so I will have to start driving out there to bank. That is far from ideal.”
The bank, which is 72 per cent owned by the taxpayer, said customers visiting their on-street branches had fallen by 40 per cent since 2014.
A spokesperson said: “More and more of our customers are choosing to do their everyday banking online or on mobile.
“Since 2014 the number of customers using our branches across the UK has fallen by 40 per cent and mobile transactions have increased by 73 per cent over the same period. Over five million customers now use our mobile banking app and one in five only bank with us digitally.”
The move is expected to create around 1000 job losses across the country, according to the union Unite.
The RBS representative added: “We realise this is difficult news for our colleagues and we are doing everything we can to support those affected.”
The first of the Perth and Kinross branches to shut its doors will be the Pitlochry branch on Atholl Road, which is set to close to the public on May 31.
This will then be followed by the Aberfeldy branch on June 7, the Comrie one on June 13, Kinross’ financial hub on June 25, and finally the Fair City’s South Street branch on June 27.
Unite, which represents the employees of RBS, have slammed the move, calling it “savage” and “institutional financial vandalism”.
A spokesperson for the union said: “This news from RBS is totally shocking and represents a change in how the banking sector conducts its affairs. The sheer scale of this latest round of branch closures is savage. How can a UK taxpayer-backed organisation devastate local communities by disenfranchising them of the ability to bank at their local branch?
“Once again loyal staff, that have helped to rebuild RBS over the last decade, will be rewarded with the prospect of an uncertain future and a bleak Christmas.”
The union expects the affected Perth and Kinross communities to be served by mobile banking vans, however, the spokesperson added: “Unite is clear that 39 mobile vans and a relatively small team of community bankers throughout the country will not be able to cope with an increased number of customers disenfranchised from their local banking service as a result of this announcement.”
Luke Graham, Conservative MP for Ochil and South Perthshire – which covers the Kinross and Comrie RBS premises – said: “I’m extremely disappointed by these branch closure announcements.
“At the end of November we secured significant investment into Ochil and South Perthshire through the Tay Cities Deal - the Royal Bank of Scotland is pulling out of the area at the worst possible time.
“It is so disappointing that RBS, a publicly-owned bank, is taking away public service, and I will be fighting tooth and nail against these closures.”
Murdo Fraser, Conservative MSP for Mid-Scotland and Fife, said: “I fully understand that more banking services are being accessed online and to a lesser extent over the phone, but there is no substitute for having a physical presence on the High Street.
“Elderly and vulnerable residents, those most at risk to online and over the phone scams, value the ability to go in branch and speak to an advisor face to face. The loss of this service is highly damaging. This latest round of proposed closures from RBS, will hit small communities particularly hard and I am calling on bank bosses to think again.”
Mr Fraser continued: “Both Pitlochry and Aberfeldy are busy tourist destinations and closing these branches seems particularly short sighted.
“RBS are not the only culprit when it comes to shutting High Street branches, but this current pattern of closures cannot continue as it threatens to rip the heart out of small communities.”
Highland Perthshire residents have also hit out over the looming closure of the RBS branches in Aberfeldy and Pitlochry.
In Pitlochry, where Bank House, once the manager’s residence, stands empty waiting to be demolished, RBS customers said they were shocked and angry to learn their branch on the main road was to be shut on May 31.
Taking to social media, former Pitlochry resident Maggie Sleep now living in Cornwall said: “I used to live and work in Pitlochry. Now I live in Tintagel, Cornwall.
“Tintagel is similar in size (possibly slightly bigger) to Pitlochry, and in the last four to five years we’ve lost all of our banks...our Post Office...our butcher...and our garage.
“Please don’t let them strip your village out as they have ours. As soon as anything is taken away from you, it’s gone for ever...I adore Pitlochry, and I still visit at every opportunity. If you don’t want to turn into a dormitory town as we have, give it all you’ve got, please.”
Lynn Young got on social media to comment on rural demographics: “What they seem to be forgetting is that two thirds of the population are now over 50 and that number is rising.
“This group tends to be less IT savvy and less disposed to travelling when they shouldn’t need to.
“I agree that their ridiculous ‘customer service’ slogans should be ridiculed and funds moved elsewhere.”
Lynn Young added another thought: “I wished to say I experienced the nicest customer service ever in Pitlochry branch, from a young man called Thomas.
“He was very helpful with the small task I needed to do, and showed interest. His kindness made my day after a long journey.
“A day or two later I saw this news. Good luck to you Thomas for the future, you deserve to do well, unlike the banks as a whole, who seem to have lost sight of the ‘customer’.”
The issue of a tourist town like Pitlochry being without a branch of RBS was of considerable concern to Cafe Calluna owner, Tracy Hall.
She said: “This is not good news. Pitlochry will really struggle, both the visitors and residents are hugely disadvantaged once this branch goes and the nearest face behind the glass is in Perth. Cash for tills and daily banking of mainly cash takings is essential for our business.”
The reaction in Aberfeldy - where the Bank of Scotland has already gone from the Square, leaving just Lloyds TSB and a cash point at the Co-op - was even more strident. RBS is due to shut its doors there on June 7.
Jean Duff, a retired newsagent and once an RBS employee in Aberfeldy, said: “Do they not realise that they will lose thousands of accounts?
“People will not travel or use a mobile, they will move to TSB - then the RBS will lose even more money.”
Christmas cheques sent by relatives to children caused Jo Murray concern.
She said: “Kids get cheques for Christmas. How do you pay those in now? Tempted to switch banks after 25 years!”
