Brendan O’Hara MP launches petition as bank moves to shed five local branches

Argyll & Bute MP Brendan O’Hara has requested an urgent meeting with TSB bosses to discuss the impact of the decision to close five branches across the constituency – Campbeltown, Dunoon, Helensburgh, Lochgilphead and Rothesay.

The bank plans to shut 73 branches across Scotland, more than half its store estate over the last seven years.

Commenting, SNP MP Brendan O’Hara said:  “Businesses across Scotland have been hit hard by Coronavirus and the banks are no exception.

“However, a face-to-face banking service in the local community is essential for my constituents – particularly at a time when many are already feeling isolated.

“In choosing to leave towns, companies like the TSB are only looking at the effects on their corporate balances and are completely ignoring the people who will be affected by these cuts – particularly their own, hardworking staff who are also valued members of our communities.

“Companies like the TSB, and RBS and Clydesdale Bank before them, need to understand the importance of their services, but also their presence, in these communities.

“In the last five years this constituency has lost ten bank branches, three of them in Rothesay alone.

“Any decision to remove physical services and branches from Argyll & Bute will have a detrimental effect on the people who live in the area and use these services.

“More long term, any withdrawal from these communities will also add large, vacant premises to our High Streets. In the aftermath of Covid and Brexit our High Streets will need support to recover and thrive. Abandoning them now will not aid these recovery efforts.

“Banking services must be secured in Argyll & Bute, not eroded any further.

“I have written to TSB to request an urgent meeting and rest assured, I will fight to keep our local branches open.”

You can sign the petition by clicking the link here:

https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/save-tsb-branches-in-argyll-bute-from-closure