Dodgy broadband in the most populated part of Tayside and Fife blows a hole in the case for branch closures, it has been argued.
RBS and Bank of Scotland chiefs want customers to do most of their banking online as they prepare to shut more than 100 branches in the country.
But up to 2,000 households in the west of Dundee fell victim to a broadband blackout on Friday, which lasted as long as 36 hours.
Michael Marra, the Dundee councillor whose ward has been blighted by internet problems since Friday, said the broadband blackout demonstrates how vital physical banking remains.
“I have been contacted by customers over the last few days who have been left without internet, television and phone services,” Labour’s Lochee representative said.
“These include people who are doing personal banking, but also people who are running businesses and depend on banking services.
“This shows just how much we need a network of branches in our communities.”
Virgin Media apologised for the problems that Dundee residents faced over the long weekend.
As the second most densely populated part of the country, Dundee has some of the best broadband in the country.
Large swathes of Courier Country have such slow speeds that it is impossible to bank online, including in areas where branches are being axed.
Highland Perthshire has some of the worst broadband in the UK but is losing branches in Pitlochry, Aberfeldy and Comrie.
The Courier’s Save Our Bank campaign aims to halt the latest round of closures.
Eight RBS branches are to shut in Tayside and Fife this year, and a further two from BoS.
The banks say they are reacting to customer behaviour and there are many ways to bank following the closures, such as through mobile vans and post offices.
In an email to staff, RBS chief executive Ross McEwan said: “We’ve seen a massive switch to online and mobile banking, while branch usage has dropped substantially by 40% since 2014.
“I do appreciate that the transition is painful for some customers and colleagues and our job must be to make sure that the right measures are in place to help people through the change.”
