Calls to reverse branch closures in Moray are being taken to the head of the Clydesdale Bank.
Outlets in Buckie and Aberlour are due to be shut in May with the firm blaming a drop in the number of people passing through the doors.
The move was discussed yesterday as an emergency item of business by Moray Council’s economic development and infrastructure committee.
Members unanimously backed the idea of chairman John Cowe writing to the Clydesdale’s chief executive to urge the bank to drop the plans.
Mr Cowe said: “As well as the distilleries, there are some huge international companies on Speyside that will be affected by this.
“The area also contributes a huge amount of money, per head of the population. Probably more than anywhere else outside London.”
The bank has insisted the move is part of creating an enhanced service for customers, who will have their accounts transferred to Keith.
But Buckie councillor Sonya Warren, who raised the emergency item on the agenda, is not convinced.
She said: “We are heading for a situation where the Clydesdale will have reduced its branches from more than 10 to just two for the whole of Moray.
“With good prospects for economic growth in Buckie this make no business sense to me whatsoever.”
