RBS bosses should prepare for an exodus of Highland Perthshire customers, politicians have warned.
Elderly people now facing round trips of more than 50 miles are likely to move their accounts to other banks.
SNP MSP for Perthshire South and Kinross-shire Roseanna Cunningham has urged RBS bosses to think again.
She said: “Local banking services are vital to communities in Perth and Kinross and many people are still dependent on high street services – this is a lifeline service for some.
“The closures announced by RBS in this area go way beyond even the level of closures that are taking place right across the country.”
She added: “Across Perth and Kinross we are going from seven branches down to just two in the whole area and will have disappeared entirely from South Perthshire and from Kinross-shire and will be particularly sorely felt given the age demographics in the communities affected.
“Given the distances that will now be involved in finding the nearest RBS branch, I imagine many customers will be seriously considering moving their accounts because other banks are, after all, available.”
John Swinney the SNP’s MSP for the North Perthshire, added: “These proposed branch closures from RBS let down communities, disadvantage small businesses and will have an impact on tourism.
“This is not a decision that can be made simply on a commercial basis and the quoting of statistics about the number of customers who use online or other forms of banking.”
He said: “Residents of Highland Perthshire will feel particularly let down by these proposals as they could now face lengthy round-trips if they need to use their nearest bank branch, should these closures go ahead.”
Perth and North Perthshire MP Pete Wishart added: “The SNP group of MPs in Westminster will also be raising the matter in the House of Commons and pressing the UK Government to step in and use its influence to change this devastating decision.
“RBS is not just any old bank. The UK Government remains a significant shareholder in the bank and they should be using that influence to ensure that this is a bank that serves communities right across the country.”
