Sutherland’s last remaining bank at Golspie to close after 47 per cent fall in transactions
The last remaining bank in Sutherland will close its doors early next year, it has emerged.
The Bank of Scotland branch in Golspie will close permanently on February 4, and will be replaced by a ‘community banker’ - a bank officer who will have set hours in a space in a local building, such as a library.
Bank staff at the branch will be offered the opportunity to move to a role in another branch or in another part of the business.
All of the bank’s customers will receive a letter shortly about the closure.
Lloyds Banking Group manager Neil Moore confirmed the closure in a letter to East and Central Sutherland councillor James McGillivray.
He wrote: “Many customers now choose to bank through their mobile app, online, or over the phone and as a result, visits to our branches have fallen.
“The number of transactions by our personal customers using this branch have decreased by 47 per cent over the last five years and business transactions have fallen by a similar amount.
“I am sure you will appreciate that we must respond to the changing behaviours of our customers. When the branch closes, customers can continue to manage their money on our mobile app, online, by calling us, or in person at the local post office, or by visiting our community banker.”
Mr Moore added that before reaching the decision a “thorough assessment” of the alternative services available had been made.
