Residents of a Fife town have admitted defeat in their efforts to stop a local bank from closing.
The Royal Bank of Scotland will press ahead with the closure of its Cardenden branch next month, despite the move causing anger among members of the local community.
A petition circulated throughout the town and attracted hundreds of signatures.
However, after accepting an invitation to meet representatives of the community council last week, officials from the bank confirmed that they would be pressing ahead with the closure plans.
The decision has bitterly disappointed David Taylor, the secretary of Cardenden Community Council.
“We were hoping that they might consider operating the bank with reduced hours but they told us that there were not enough people using the branch to justify keeping it open,” he said.
“I think they were pretty determined to close it down.”
The closure, scheduled to take place next month, will result in just one bank remaining in the town a branch of Lloyds TSB that opens for two days a week.
However, following the decision by RBS to leave Cardenden, Mr Taylor said he and a number of local organisations and businesses would consider switching banks.
“For local businesses, it is just not possible to travel to Kirkcaldy or Lochgelly,” he added. “I’ve already spoken to a couple of organisations who are thinking of moving.”
A bank spokesperson said: “The meeting between representatives from RBS and the community council went ahead last week. The decision to close the Cardenden branch has not been reversed; however, we will do all we can to support our customers to make alternative arrangements.
“A full branch offering is available at the nearby Cowdenbeath branch and there are other options customers can use to access their accounts, including RBS mobile phone applications, online and telephone banking services and the use of any post office to pay bills, withdraw cash and check balances.”