RBS confirm that town branch will shut in October

The bank said that they have "taken the difficult decision" to close the High Street branch on October 2, while another five across the Kingdom are also set to go.

A spokesperson for RBS said that an increase in customers using mobile and online banking had coincided with a fall in branch transactions.

The spokesperson said: "The way people choose to bank with us has changed radically over the last few years. Between 2010 and 2015, mobile and online transactions have increased by over 400 per cent and mobile transactions along have increased by 1,350 per cent.

"Since 2011 we have seen the number of transactions decline by 10 per cent in the Cowdenbeath branch.

"These customers are actively choosing to bank in different ways, with 54.3% of Cowdenbeath customers choosing to use our digital banking options.

"We are communicating with our customers affected by these closures and proactively contacting vulnerable and regular branch customers. We have listened closely to feedback from local communities and have extended the time between announcing our decision and the branch closure to six months. This has been done in order to ensure our customers have time to consider the right banking options for them."

Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath MP Roger Mullin said he was "dismayed" by the closure, and commented: "I am deeply dismayed by the news that the Royal Bank of Scotland has taken the decision to close three branches within my constituency. Although I understand that there is now greater reliance on online and telephone banking, there remains a great many people in my constituency who do not have access to, or knowledge of, digital technology.

"The Royal Bank of Scotland has already faced a number of scandals recently, including the alleged mistreatment of small businesses, and their involvement in money laundering of Criminal funds from former Soviet Union countries; to be announcing extensive branch closures at the same time is simply unacceptable. This news will undoubtedly have a detrimental effect on my constituents, and I will be speaking with representatives from RBS to discuss the matter."

The news comes after the bank closed its Kelty branch in September 2015, which sparked outrage from community leaders.

Lochs councillor Alex Campbell said at the time: "This branch has been part of Kelty for over 70 years and now they have decided to up anchor without any discussions at all.

“There are around 19 businesses in the village who rely on it and hundreds of people.

"I have been inundated with calls, mostly from senior citizens, concerned about having to travel to Cowdenbeath for banking requirements, and for some this will prove very difficult if not impossible."

Other RBS branches that will shut include Dalgety Bay, Leven, Kirkcaldy Central, Cupar and Anstruther.

RBS added that they are providing a range of banking services for customers, including an agreement with the Post Office to pay money in, take money out, check balances and for business customers to get coinage; a mobile branch for the community; a community banker, who will provide customers with "personal assistance in accessing the right banking options for their needs"; and tech experts offering training and support with digital skills, serving the branch until it closes.

The nearest branch for Cowdenbeath customers will now be in Dunfermline, more than five miles away.