WITH the Wee County set to be left with just one bank branch, an MSP has launched a campaign in Clackmannanshire.

MSP Keith Brown has started a petition to bring a banking hub, similar to the ones currently operating in Cambuslang and other locations, to Alloa.

It comes in the wake of an announcement that TSB is looking to close a number of locations, including the Alloa branch.

The Clackmannanshire and Dunblane MSP already floated the idea when the TSB announcement was made and has since launched the petition, explaining that Alloa town centre is set to be left with only one bank and two cash machines.

Not only that, the whole of Clacks, with a population of around 52,000, will only have one branch left for face-to-face customer service with the Bank of Scotland on Mar Street.

READ MORE: TSB in Alloa set to be axed

 

Mr Brown said: “Following the news that the TSB in Alloa is to close, I have created an online petition to campaign for a banking hub in Alloa.

“Banking hubs are centres operated by the Post Office, which offer postal services, personal and business banking, and bill payments, all under one roof.

“As I understand it, there is currently one in Brechin, Cambuslang, Carluke and Troon among other locations in Scotland and I think this could be a workable longer-term solution for Alloa and Clackmannanshire.

“The closure of the TSB branch will mean that both Alloa and Clackmannanshire will be left with only one bank. That is deeply disappointing for an area with a population of nearly 52,000.

“It will leave Alloa town centre with only two cash machines - which will be concerning for the people and businesses who rely on cash.”

The SNP representative has written to TSB to argue for a stay of execution for the Alloa branch so it can continue to serve customers and to protect jobs in the area.

However, he added that after years of bank closures, which has seen the likes of RBS close in 2018 followed by Santander in 2019 in Alloa, “local people quite rightly feel let down by the big banks”.

There has also been doubt over the long-term future of a post office service in Alloa, which has been taken on as franchises by various stores over the years since the standalone Crown Post Office closed some 10 years ago.

Visit change.org/p/open-a-banking-hub-in-alloa to sign the petition.