Perthshire North MSP, Mr John Swinney, Perth and North Perthshire MP, Mr Pete Wishart and Councillor Mike Williamson (SNP) have called on RBS to review their rural services, following complaints from local Perthshire communities.

Their latest intervention comes as rural Perthshire customers express their dissatisfaction at the scarcity of service offered by mobile branches and the failure to co-ordinate mobile branch visits with public transport.

Moreover, the lack of full banking facilities offered by mobile branches and the recent rural branch closures have meant that constituents staying close to Rannoch Station and reliant on public transport are quicker getting a train to Fort William if they require access to a full branch. 

Commenting, Mr Swinney said:

“The negative feedback regarding the RBS mobile branch service is an inevitable consequence of the bank’s decision to erode rural services.

“The actions taken by RBS were unwarranted, unnecessary and unfair to those in rural Perthshire. 

“I have spoken to a large number of constituents who are desperately unhappy with the current RBS service on offer. RBS senior management must now take on-board this feedback and work constructively with local communities to improve both the quality of and access to their service.”

Mr Wishart added:

“The service provided by RBS across Perthshire has been totally run down and I know that many communities are feeling abandoned by the bank. With no fast deposit service for business customers in Perth and a failure to link up mobile branch visits with the bus timetable in our most rural areas, it really feels like the bank are trying to do everything they can to lose custom.”

Mike Williamson stated:

“As a local councillor for the Highland ward, I hear every day of the problems local residents face when trying to bank with RBS.

“It really seems to me – and to those in rural Perthshire – that RBS have turned their back on their customers. 

“I echo the sentiments of John Swinney and Pete Wishart, and hope that concrete steps can be taken to rebuild trust between the bank and its rural customers”