The Royal Bank of Scotland has been called “forgetful” for refusing to reconsider a decision to close its Perth Road branch.
West End councillor Fraser Macpherson wrote to top management pressing for a change of mind after RBS announced it planned to shut the branch on June 26.
He claimed it remained popular, was in a busy shopping area and provided vital services.
“I pointed out that when they closed the student branch on the Dundee University campus in Balfour Street in 2012, the bank committed to maintaining a presence in the local area,” he said.
“Similar excuses were made when the bank previously closed branches in Lochee High Street and at Ninewells Hospital.
“The bank is always quick to point out that customers can use online, telephone and smartphone banking services, but many customers continue to want personal banking at their local branch.”
Les Matheson, the bank’s chief executive for personal and business banking, defended the closure, saying: “We keep our branch network under review to ensure that we are serving our customers effectively.
“We aim to be there for our customers where and when they need us.
“The number of customers using the Perth Road Branch has been dropping since 2011 as more people use alternative ways of banking with us.”
Mr Macpherson said: “The bank is closing branches, yet recently announced plans to pay £588 million in bonuses despite suffering an £8.24 billion loss in 2013 as it slumped into the red for the sixth successive year.
“It seems to forget that the public bailed out the bank when it got into difficulties in 2008-09 but the public interest is far from the bank management’s minds as they continue to close vital local branches.”