Highland Council’s leader has called for an urgent meeting with RBS on its branch closure proposals across the north.
A dozen RBS branches across the region are set to close, with residents in Barra facing a ferry trip and 30-minute drive if they need to carry out face-to-face banking.
The last banks in Beauly and Tongue will shut, along with Kyle, Mallaig, Tain, Wick, Grantown, Aviemore, Nairn, Inverary in Argyll and Queensgate in Inverness.
RBS blamed the closures on a fall in customers at the counters, and said more people are using online services.
The P&J is campaigning against the closures.
Highland Council leader Margaret Davidson said the plans were of “great concern” to communities across the Highlands, adding: “While I appreciate the changing nature of banking, it is very disappointing that there was no prior consultation or efforts made to explore alternative options, especially as RBS is a publicly owned bank.
“Increasing use of online banking is not and never will be a replacement for cash transactions. If branches close, rural businesses that wish to bank their cash income in future will face hundreds of miles round trips to the nearest bank in Highland and this could leave them vulnerable as potential targets for crime in areas without banks.
“I will be writing to RBS to seek an urgent meeting to discuss their branch closure proposals.”
