Bank of Scotland has revealed its plans to compensate for branch closures with an expanded mobile service.
Aberlour, Cullen, Fochabers and Portsoy were among 11 places in the north-east told in the summer their branches would shut.
The bank was warned by critics including Moray MP Angus Robertson that only a “high quality” replacement would be acceptable amid concerns of the impact on small businesses and other customers.
Under the proposals, a new vehicle is being brought in to provide extra stops – and more extensive services, a spokesman said.
It will stop three times a week at Fochabers and twice at Aberlour – matching the number of days those branches were open.
Cullen and Portsoy however will be visited only once a week, despite their branches presently opening for two days.
Each visit will last two hours, meaning the total time banking is available across the four areas more than halves from 35.5 to 14.
Bank of Scotland insisted the branches are underused, with only 30 regular customers between them.
Branch doors will close a month later than expected, at the end of November, while the new arrangements are put into effect.
A bank spokesman said: “Our mobile branches are designed to be flexible and provide key services, such as making deposits, withdrawing cash and paying bills.
“For this route, we are investing in a new vehicle with additional capability so it will also be able to help customers use online banking and make general account or product inquiries.”
Mr Robertson said he was pleased the bank had met its commitment to address the “disappointing” closures with more mobile banking.
But he added: “It remains to be seen whether the mobile service is an adequate replacement and I will be keeping a close eye on the response from the community.”
The mobile schedule is:
Tuesday: Burghead, 9:30am-11:30am; Fochabers 12:30pm-2.30pm
Wednesday: Aberlour 9:30am-11:30am; Fochabers 12.30pm-2.30pm;
Thursday: Portsoy 9:45am-11:45am; Cullen 12.30pm-2.30pm
Friday: Fochabers 9:30am-11:30am; Aberlour 12.30pm-2.30pm
