Christina Portrait

 

Local MSP Christina McKelvie set to summon RBS to Parliament for meeting on branch closures

 

The Royal Bank of Scotland is set to meet with local MSP for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse, Christina McKelvie, following their decision to close two branches within the constituency.

The closures, set to impact the Hamilton Cadzow Street branch and the Larkhall Union Street branch, are expected to commence in June 2018. As part of a range of cuts to local banking, 62 RBS branches are set to close across Scotland, resulting in over 165 job losses.

In a leaked email from RBS CEO Ross McEwan, it was admitted that closing local branches was a “difficult choice” and that it would be “painful” for local customers.

SNP MSP for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse, Christina McKelvie, had previously written to the RBS Chief Executive, successfully demanding a meeting with RBS regarding the branch closures.

Commenting, Christina McKelvie MSP said:

“By their own self-admission, RBS clearly realise the difficult and painful decisions they are inflicting throughout communities in Scotland.

“On two previous occasions, I have written to RBS demanding to know what oversight, due diligence and impact assessments they conducted when hastily deciding to close two branches within my constituency.

“As of yet, I still remain gravely unsatisfied with the answers I have received.

“In their replies, RBS have displayed some worrying discrepancies, such as incorrectly stating the amount of transactions in branch since 2012. Originally, they claimed transactions in Larkhall have reduced by 34%. In reality, it has reduced by 24%.

“It’s beggar’s belief therefore that RBS can press full-steam ahead with their branch closures when their own evidence for doing so doesn’t stand up to scrutiny.

“I am looking forward to addressing these personally when I meet them in the Scottish Parliament later this month.

“I will continue to apply pressure to the UK Government to intervene in the dispute imploring RBS to put people before profit.”