MP Richard Thomson condemns blow to Dyce as last bank announces closure
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Gordon MP Richard Thomson has condemned the decision by Bank of Scotland to close their branch in Dyce.
The move means the town will no longer have any banks following the decisions by the TSB, Clydesdale Bank and Royal Bank of Scotland to close their branches in recent times.
Lloyds Banking Group have confirmed the Dyce branch will close on July 5 citing the growth in people using online banking.
Mr Thomson confirmed he will be taking up the Bank’s offer of a meeting to discuss the closure.
Commenting, MP Richard Thomson said: “This news will come as a blow to customers in Dyce and it is disappointing that the fact this is the last bank in the community has apparently been overlooked by those making this decision.
“It is generally accepted that more and more people are doing their banking online and of course that leads to a reduction in footfall at local branches.
"The question for the banks is how they sustain their business in future when they don’t have a ready-made pool of branch customers and are simply one choice in hundreds online.
“The more fundamental question for the communities losing their banks is what replaces them.
"We are fortunate in that Dyce has a local sub-postmaster who has just invested in the business, indeed has relocated to a former bank building.
"More widely, 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 for those communities who wish them.”
Forres is also set to lose its final bank with the closure of the local Bank Of Scotland on July 11.
