The branch-culling boss of RBS was accused of “completely misunderstanding” Scotland during a Commons clash with MPs.
In his long-awaited appearance before the Scottish Affairs Committee, chief executive Ross McEwan doubled down on his plan to close up to 62 branches north of the border.
He said the taxpayer-owned bank had received “no representations” from the UK Government about the closures, despite claims from the Prime Minister the issue had been raised with them.
It was also revealed that the independent review into footfall at 10 reprieved Scottish branches is facing delays, with the study due to take place at one of the quietest times of the year, between June and August.
The Courier is campaigning against the closures because they will cut off society’s most vulnerable and make life even more difficult for small businesses.
The RBS branches to close in Courier Country are in Aberfeldy, Pitlochry, Perth South Street, Kinross, Dundee Stobswell, Dunblane, Montrose and Comrie, with the latter one of those granted what has been dubbed a stay of execution.
John Lamont, for the Scottish Conservatives, told Mr McEwan on Tuesday that many Scots do not have access to broadband and rely on a physical bank.
The Borders MP told him: “I think you completely misunderstand how many of your customers do banking.”
In one of several attempts to get Mr McEwan to halt the closures, Pete Wishart, the committee’s chairman and a Perthshire MP, said the £9.5m savings is “small beer” for a bank that announced £750m profits in the first quarter of the year.
Mr McEwan dismissed the idea of banking hubs and said that post offices are the future in many communities.
“The world has changed and we have to change as well,” he told MPs.
“I accept that is very difficult and that is why we have over 2,000 points (of physical service) where our customers can connect with us through a post office, through our mobile vans, through our community bankers that we didn’t have 12-18 months ago.
“These are the services we are putting in place.”
Mr McEwan said the decision to close branches is also about getting the best deal for the taxpayer when the UK Government sells its stake.
“I would dearly like to get (the taxpayer) its money back,” he said.
Before the meeting Unite accused executives of downplaying the impact on jobs.
The union claimed that from the 52 branches facing immediate closure, there would be 179 compulsory job cuts in the 228-strong workforce.
RBS said they do not recognise the figures and that the majority of the branch staff have chosen voluntary redundancy or been redeployed.
