Banking giant RBS has signalled a £250,000 renovation of its Forfar branch to cope with demand caused by the closure of its offices nearby.
The move was announced by the firm while it signalled the impending closure of its Alyth branch.
This also follows the shutters going down at the Kirriemuir RBS on Bank Street earlier this year.
Plans to close the Alyth branch while the town recovers from recent flooding have been branded “insensitive” byconstituency MSP John Swinney.
He was reacting to the announcement that the bank will shut its doors on November 18 and he said he would do his best to convince RBS to reverse thedecision.
“I am very disappointed by the RBS decision to close its branch in Alyth and particularly regret the timing of this announcement as the town tries to recover from very damaging flooding,” said Mr Swinney.
“Whilst I recognise that people are more frequently using digital banking, I am very concerned by the reduction in access to banking services this decision represents.
“I have already made representations to RBS to change their decision as I think it is very insensitive to the needs of Alyth at this difficult time.
“RBS have agreed to consider fully and carefully the concerns I have raised.”
The firm described it as “a difficult decision” and said they were working on alternative ways for people to continue banking with them.
“We will be investing up to £250,000 in our Forfar branch, which is 15.9 miles away, this year,” said spokeswoman Debbie Phillips.
“We have reached an agreement with the local post office which is 5.5 miles away from the branch so that ourcustomers can check their balance, deposit and withdraw funds, andbusiness customers can get coinage.
“We intend to retain our ATM in the local community and there are also two other free to use ATMs within one mile of the branch.
“We are introducing a mobile branch service to the community and we will be engaging with our customers and the local community to understand the best day and time for the mobile branch to visit.
“The number of transactions taking place at Alyth branch has dropped by 15% since 2011 and only 50 customers use the branch on a regular weekly basis 14 of these customers already use other branches in the area.”
MSP Murdo Fraser is seeking an urgent meeting with bank chiefs on the issue and local councillor Dennis Melloy said closure would be a “serious blow” to the village.