MSP Elena Whitham, MP Allan Dorans on Cumnock bank closure

We reported back in June that the Bank of Scotland Townhead Street branch will close its doors on February 12, 2024.

As part of itsdecision making, Bank of Scotland recently released detailed information about why this decision had been made, including speaking with Allan Dorans MP for Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock, and Elena Whitham MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley.

Bank of Scotland has said that it has seen a 29 per cent decrease in personal customers using the Cumnock branch since 2018, and a 38 per cent decrease in business customers.

The information shows that there has been a 27 per cent increase in cash machine transactions over the five years, between January 2018 and 2023.

Despite this, Bank of Scotland plans to close the bank machine at the Cumnock branch, with the closest free-to-use machine located at Asda.

READ MORE: Bank of Scotland explains why it is closing Cumnock branch

As well as saying he opposes these plans, MP Allan Dorans says work must be done to try and avoid this happening.

The SNP MP said:  "I have received notification from the Lloyds Banking Group informing me that they will be closing a further 17 Bank of Scotland branches including those in Cumnock and Girvan. They propose to replace these with banking hubs in both towns by 2024.

"They also provided information on the reasons for the closures which indicated that the Cumnock branch has seen a decrease in customer usage of almost 30 per cent since 2018 and that the decline in Girvan has been over 40 per cent.

"I am opposed to these closures taking place."

MP, Allan Dorans. (Image: Allan Dorans MP FB)

He added: "Along with other Members of Parliament whose constituencies are affected by these closures, I have written to the Bank of Scotland to request a formal meeting to discuss these closures and we are currently awaiting confirmation of this meeting taking place.

"In addition, along with 15 other MPs I have submitted an Early Day Motion to Parliament calling upon the Secretary of State to work with the Scottish Government to prevent closures and protect communities access to banking services and cash.

"The closure of banks in these towns will adversely affect the elderly, people without access to the internet and small businesses who rely on banks for banking facilities, cash and coins and will result in the loss of staff from the branches affected.

"We need to do all we can to prevent these closures taking place."

MSP, Elena Whitham, added that she understood this news would come as a concern to constituents, but that she'll work hard to ensure help is provided.

Ms Whitham said: “The closure of the Bank of Scotland in Cumnock and Girvan is understandably of concern to the people who are reliant upon in-person banking services, especially small business owners and the elderly. The Bank of Scotland has contacted me to discuss their reasoning and I have been representing the interests of constituents to them.

“I have been reassured that a Banking Hub is planned for Cumnock and Girvan. These will be a similar style to the one that recently opened in Troon which has been well-received for its flexibility in allowing multiple banks to use the space to reach their customers.

“I am in contact with Cash Access UK and I am pushing for these hubs to be opened as soon as possible."

MSP, Elena Whitham. (Image: MSP, Elena Whitham)

The MSP continued: “The Bank of Scotland has also informed me that all branches closing are within one mile of a Post Office which offers essential bank counter services. They are also liaising directly with business owners in the town to ensure their needs are met.

“For better or worse, banks, and nearly every other sector, are moving further to digital as consumer habits change.

"We need to make sure they bring our rural communities along with them. As the MSP for Cumnock and Girvan, I will be following developments closely and advocating for constituents.”