Ellon to lose TSB as bank closes nine Scottish branches
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Ellon is one of nine TSB branches which has been announced for closure in 2022.
The bank have shared that the branch on Bridge Street will close on April 19.
Forres, Thurso, Stranraer, Lanark, Kirkintilloch, Fort William, Dundee Coldside and Forfar will also be cut.
On their website the TSB claim: "We remain committed to face-to-face services through a branch network that covers the whole country, and over 90 percent of our customers are within a 20-minute drive to their closest branch." and say that the closures have been triggered by a surge in people banking digitally.
The nearest branches to Ellon will be Peterhead, Inverurie or Aberdeen.
Government High Streets Task Force expert Dr Jackie Mulligan said: “This news is yet another hammer blow to the UK high street, which is already reeling after nearly two years of pain.
“The shift online is irreversible, but so, too, is the damage that a bank leaving a high street can cause for the shops that surround it.
“Local high street shops need their local communities more than ever and the gradual retreat of banks, which bring all-important footfall, poses another existential threat.”
Commenting on the announcement, Gordon MP Richard Thomson said: “This is sadly an all-too common pattern we are seeing of banks which once took pride in their local roots and serving their communities simply being axed by some far-off head office in a bitter blow to the town centre.
“Clearly, customer habits have changed markedly since the old Aberdeen Savings Bank with the rise of online banking and the pandemic.
"However, if this week’s storm-related events have taught us anything it’s that you cannot rely on doing things online.
"In addition, one has to question a business model which says that the answer to declining footfall is simply to close down and retreat online where, instead of being one of three or four local banks to choose from, the TSB will become one of hundreds of options.
“The TSB have offered to meet with me and I shall be taking them up on that offer.
"There are questions around the retention of the ATM machine in light of the growing restrictions on people being able to access their own cash, and also where Ellon customers’ accounts will be maintained.
“I am becoming increasingly convinced that the answer to this wholesale withdrawal of banks from local communities is shared banking hubs.
"Pilot schemes are underway and seem to be showing some promise and this is certainly something which should be considered.”
