How will RBS branch closures affect you? Tell MPs your views

UKParliament

On Wednesday 17 January the Scottish Affairs Committee will be questioning the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) about their recently announced plans to close branches in Scotland.

Ahead of this session the Committee want to hear from you about the impact these closures would have on you, your family, friends and local community.

What impact will these closures have on your ability to access banking services?

How long will it take you to get to your nearest bank?

Will the alternatives RBS is promoting, such as online banking and accessing services via the Post Office, work for you?

The Committee will use the information you provide to inform their questioning of RBS. Please post your comment by Tuesday 9 January.

Please note, the Committee cannot respond to or pursue individual cases.

If you don’t want to contribute on the forum, you can submit through the Committee’s website.

You can visit the Committee website, or follow the Committee Twitter account @CommonsScotAffs, for more information.

PeacefulWaters

No impact.

Ten minutes.

Yes.

oldagetraveller

And this committee will change their minds, how?
Looks like some MSPs trying to justify their existence and claim some expenses to me.

agrinnall

No impact as I don't bank with any part of the group. But even if I did it wouldn't be an issue for me as I rarely need to go into a bank branch, but when I do I use branches of one of the two banks that does have a physical presence near me.

I suspect the majority of people posting on this board (and certainly the regulars) are quite sophisticated users of online banking from multiple providers, so wouldn't be personally bothered by branch closures.

The people who will be impacted are less likely to be posting on here, such as my 85 year old mother who now only has a building society in her town following Lloyds closing their branch. I don't recall seeing MPs making a fuss about that.

sausage_time

Significant impact. I often pay in cheques or cash and the Post Office service is too slow and restrictive (on the cash amount).

25mins to nearest alternative. But that is in town and I'd need to find a parking space and pay to park. Existing branch is somewhat rural and parking is not a problem. No practical bus route.

See comments above about Post Office. I hear cheque deposit by app is coming (and I'd use that), but cash deposits will still be a challenge.

colsten

No impact.

Twenty or thirty minutes, depends which of the 2 branches in the vicinity I use.

Yes, definitely. Unless RBS introduce something that can only be done in one of their branches

daveyjp

sausage_time wrote: »

Significant impact. I often pay in cheques or cash and the Post Office service is too slow and restrictive (on the cash amount).

25mins to nearest alternative. But that is in town and I'd need to find a parking space and pay to park. Existing branch is somewhat rural and parking is not a problem. No practical bus route.

See comments above about Post Office. I hear cheque deposit by app is coming (and I'd use that), but cash deposits will still be a challenge.

If you run a business it really is time to start seriously looking at cashless and chequeless alternatives.

These bank closures won’t be overturned and many more will follow.

Nick_C

The impact this will have on me is that it may help to return the bank to profitability and bring forward the day when the Taxpayer might stop bearing the huge losses incurred by this inefficient organisation. I would rather my taxes are spent on essential public services.

sausage_time

daveyjp wrote: »

If you run a business it really is time to start seriously looking at cashless and chequeless alternatives.

I agree, but my comments were not business related.

agrinnall

sausage_time wrote: »

I agree, but my comments were not business related.

Then I'm intrigued as to why you often need to pay in cash and cheques? That's not something most non-business customers would need to do, and is one of the reasons why banks are able to justify branch closures.

iltisman

I rarely visit banks but I got a cheque from a cash back deal last week and went to the Natwest to pay it in. I hardly recognised it as a bank, no row of tellers just rows of machines an a professional smiler telling customers how to use them . Bin cheques and they could close them all.