Shock over RBS closure move

SHOCK has greeted the decision by the Royal Bank of Scotland to close its branches in Keith and Dufftown.

At least five jobs will be lost when the banking giant, 81% of which is still in public ownership, closes Keith on September 2 and Dufftown on September 15.

While the closure will leave Dufftown with no bank, Keith still has the Clydesdale and TSB open full time, and the Bank of Scotland open three days a week.

The nearest altenative RBS branch is Huntly or Elgin, although customers can pay cheques and cash in to their account at the Mid Street Post Office. Jane Martin, chair of Keith Community Council, said the announcement was deeply disappointing for the town.

"I know that a lot of people now do internet banking, but this is going to hit our older people who still like to go to a branch for face-to-face contact."

She added: "What is even more disappointing is that the bank will close at a time when we are in the middle of our regeneration efforts.

Gary Coull, local councillor for the Keith/Cullen ward, said: "The closure of the RBS branch in Keith will be a major inconvenience for customers, it removes important skilled local jobs and will leave a prominent empty building in the town’s main shopping street."

RBS said it had taken the difficult decision to close the branches due to the drop in the number of transactions.

Bunty Campbell, chairwoman of Dufftown Community Council, described the news as a "blow to the community".

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