RBS have been slammed for its new mobile banking timetable. A number of communities are set to lose their mobile banking bus despite repeated assurances from RBS chiefs that the service would be increased following closures to local branches.
From 28th April, Coldstream, Paxton, Allanton, Foulden, Leitholm, Swinton, Lauder and St Boswells are all set to lose their weekly mobile banking service. Chirnside and Ayton will go from having two weekly services to none. Greenlaw, Newtown St Boswells and Earlston will go from two visits a week to just a single visit. The mobile branch will stop at Greenlaw for only 20 minutes once a week.
The bank has also announced that Hawick, Selkirk, Duns, Jedburgh, Eyemouth, Melrose and Earlston will receive a mobile banking service from 28th April, despite the ongoing campaign to save the bank branches there. Jedburgh and Selkirk, where the branch is earmarked for closure, will receive just a 30 minute stop once a week.
Overall the mobile banking service from Haddington will be reduced from 33 stops a week to just 24 stops.
John Lamont MP has described the new timetable as “ill judged” and has written to RBS bosses to demand they reconsider.
Commenting, John Lamont MP said: “I am incredibly angry about these proposals. Despite being repeatedly told by RBS bosses at the Scottish Affairs Committee and at other meetings that mobile banking services would be increased, the bank has done the exact opposite.
“A huge number of communities across the Borders are set to lose the only access they have to face to face banking, on top of the closure of their nearest branch.
“This new timetable is completely ill judged. It includes a 20 minute stop once a week in Greenlaw, which is so short it is nearly useless. It also involves the mobile branch travelling through Chirnside on its way from Duns to Eyemouth but not stopping there. Most of East Berwickshire will have its service removed in order to give the mobile branch a half day on a Tuesday.
“It is also hugely disappointing to see that mobile services are already being announced for towns where the campaign to save the local branch is still going on.”
Ends
Notes to Editors
A photo of the new timetable, including locations, is attached.
Current Timetable
Monday
Gifford - 09:20 - 09:40
Pathhead - 10:00-11:00
Lauder - 11:30 - 11:50
Earlston - 12:00 - 12:45
St Boswells - 14:00 - 14:20
Newtown St Boswells - 14:30 - 15:30
Tuesday
Greenlaw - 10:00 - 10:45
Coldstream - 11:05 - 11:25
Paxton - 11:45 - 12:00
Allanton - 12:20 -12:40
Foulden - 12:55 - 13:10
Chirnside - 13:45 - 14:45
Ayton - 15:00 - 15:40
Wednesday
East Linton – 9:30 – 10:30
Longniddry - 10:50 - 11:50
Newtongrange - 12:20 - 13:20
Thursday
Ayton - 09:45 - 10:30
Chirnside - 10:40 - 11:30
Swinton - 11:45 - 12:00
Leitholm - 12:10 - 12:30
Greenlaw - 13:10 - 13:45
Earlston - 14:00 - 14:45
Newtown St Boswells - 15:00 - 15:45
Friday
Pathhead - 09:30 - 10:30
Newtongrange - 10:45 - 11:45
Port Seton - 12:15 - 12:45
Longniddry - 14:00 - 15:00
East Linton - 15:20 - 16:20
Saturday
Gullane - 09:30 - 09:50
Aberlady - 10:00 - 10:20
Ormiston - 10:50 - 11:10
Pencaitland – 11.20
Macmerry - 11:50 - 12:10
New Timetable
Monday
Melrose – 10:30 – 11.00
Jedburgh – 11.30 – 12.05
Hawick 13.25 – 14.10
Selkirk – 14.45-15.15
Tuesday
Greenlaw – 10.00 – 10.20
Duns – 11.40-12.35
Eyemouth – 12.05-12.50
Wednesday
East Linton - 9.20-9.40
Port Seton – 10.15-10.35
Prestonpans – 10.50-11.25
Ormiston – 12.05-12.20
Pathhead – 13.24-14.10
Penicuik – 14.50-15.35
Thursday
Dunbar – 9.30 – 10.30
North Berwick – 11.05 – 12.05
Longniddry – 13.25 – 14.25
Newtongrange – 15.00 – 16.10
Friday
Earlston – 9.55 – 10.40
Melrose – 11.00 – 11.30
Newtown St Boswells – 12.35 – 13.20
Hawick – 14.00 – 14.45
Saturday
Gullane – 9.00 – 9.20
North Berwick – 9.45 – 10.30
Dunbar – 11.10 – 11.55