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Ellon to lose last physical bank branch as Bank of Scotland announces closures

Banff and Buckie banks will also close, forcing some customers to take a 60-mile round trip to their nearest branch.

The Bank of Scotland branch in Ellon on Thursday. Image: Darrell Benns/DC Thomson
The Bank of Scotland branch in Ellon on Thursday. Image: Darrell Benns/DC Thomson

Ellon is set to lose its last physical bank branch this year.

Bank of Scotland, in The Square, will close on September 10 in what has been described as a ‘blow’ to the community.

The move has been blamed on a rise in online banking and comes just months after Virgin Money shut in November. 

Richard Thomson
Richard Thomson MP. Image: Supplied.

Customers will instead be able to use the Post Office on Market Street or visit a community banker once a week, with details yet to be confirmed.

Gordon MP Richard Thomson said: “This news will come as a blow to customers in Ellon 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.”

Ellon’s TSB closed on Bridge Street last April, and Royal Bank of Scotland, also on Bridge Street, closed in 2018.

Mr Thomson said there was a “fundamental question” about what replaces banks on the high street.

MP says there is ‘very strong case for shared banking hub’ in Ellon

He added: “We are fortunate in that Ellon still has two Post Offices but for a town this size to have lost four banks in a short space of time, there must now be a very strong case for a shared banking hub.

“This has been adopted in other areas and I’ll be urging that this be adopted for Ellon.”

In a statement, the Bank of Scotland told customers: “Most customers are now using our mobile app, internet banking or calling us instead, which means they are using branches, including the Ellon branch much less.

“This means we’ll be closing the Ellon branch.

“After the branch closes, our community banker will be available to support you in the local area one day a week.”

Buckie branch also set to go

Meanwhile, Moray MP Douglas Ross has slammed the “appalling” decision to close the Buckie Bank of Scotland branch from August 1 this year.

He said the bank had informed him that there will be a community banker to support customers who will be affected by the closure.

However the MP says that the alternative “simply won’t wash” with loyal local customers, and that having access to branches is “absolutely vital” for customers in communities like Buckie and across Moray.

He is seeking an urgent meeting with bank bosses to call on them to reverse their decision.

Bank of Scotland is closing three branches in the north-east

Mr Ross said: “Once again a major bank has abandoned customers in our area. They are completely naïve to think that customers can seamlessly transition to mobile and online banking, when poor connectivity is still a major issue in areas like Buckie.

“Having access to a banking branch in their own community is absolutely crucial for customers, especially our elderly and vulnerable customers and those who don’t have access to a car.

“For them, it looks like banking in our high streets is going to soon become a thing of the past.”

Bank of Scotland in Banff to go

Banff will also lose its branch<br />Drone / Mini 2 / DJI

The Banff branch at Low Street is also due for for closure on July 30.

Banff and Buchan Conservative MP David Duguid said: “The closures of branches in Banff and Buckie are a hammer blow to these communities who have been given very little warning of this happening.

“Residents in Banff will now be forced into making a 60-mile round trip to Fraserburgh or Inverurie which is completely unacceptable given ongoing cutbacks in public transport, and for customers in Buckie, their nearest will be Elgin.

“Banff and Buchan is one of the poorest served areas for rural broadband so it’s not going to be enough to ‘educate’ customers on how to use services online, when it’s just not an option for some residents.

“I have also now requested a meeting with the Bank of Scotland to find out what mitigations will be put in place for both personal and business customers who are most dependent on the use of these branches.”