Isles SNP MP Angus MacNeil hopes the ‘penny has dropped’ for RBS who may be realising that cutting island branches is a false economy.

 

RBS have announced that after just a few weeks of trials, they are suspending the mobile banking service to Barra blaming low usage and ferry capacity issues.

 

The branch in Castlebay is currently under threat of closure but is the subject of an independent review to be carried out by Johnston Carmichael. The Lochboisdale branch is already operating on reduced opening hours and Mr MacNeil is calling for the review to also include the South Uist branch.

 

Mr MacNeil has been campaigning for the branches to be retained to provide a full service to island customers and had accused RBS of taking up valuable space on the ferries at the busiest time of the year.

 

He said: “RBS were planning a three times a week service to Barra, taking up valuable space on the ferry and spending thousands of pounds on travel.

 

“The penny may finally have dropped that it is better not only for their customers but also their own bank balance to abandon all plans for branch cuts.”