Moray MP Douglas Ross says he is “absolutely delighted” that plans have been announced to create a banking hub in Forres.
Douglas has been pushing for the creation of a hub since major banks shut their branches in the town, with the Bank of Scotland being the last to do so in July.
He had accused Bank of Scotland bosses of being “tone-deaf” after they refused to come to meet with angry loyal customers in Forres and said they were abandoning the town.
Douglas had a positive meeting with LINK and Access to Cash representatives in June to discuss how a banking hub could be brought to the town and ensure that customers can access banking services on their doorstep and has continued to engage closely with them to develop the plans.
LINK have now confirmed that Forres will be one of the 13 communities to benefit from a shared banking hub. They will work closely with Douglas and the wider community in Forres to identify a suitable premises for the hub and ensure that it meets the needs of customers in Forres.
Douglas says that elderly and vulnerable customers in particular in a town the size of Forres need to be able to carry out banking activities in their home community, while local businesses must also be able to deposit cash easily.
He says that access to face-to-face banking services is also crucial given the fact that poor mobile and internet connectivity continues to blight many residents and businesses in a rural area like Forres.
Moray MP Douglas Ross said: “I am absolutely delighted to get the confirmation that Forres will be one of the communities where a Banking Hub will be set up.
“A town and community the size of Forres should never been disgracefully abandoned like they have been in recent years by major banking branches. What was worse was that these bosses clearly were not interested in the concerns of loyal customers and could not be bothered to come to Forres to hear from them.
“I was determined to find a solution for elderly and vulnerable customers in Forres in particular who need access to banking services on their doorstep, as well as businesses who want to be able to deposit cash and takings where they’re based.
“I have engaged positively and constructively with LINK and Access to Cash since the Bank of Scotland announced plans to shut their branch in Forres. I was keen to ensure plans were developed as quickly as possible for a banking hub and to make the strongest possible case for Forres to be one of the communities to be served by a Banking Hub.
“These hubs have proved very successful elsewhere so far and I am confident we will see the same in Forres. I will continue to engage closely with LINK and Access to Cash as well as local community campaigners to ensure that a suitable location can be found for this hub, and that it meets the needs of customers in the town.
“This is a very positive step forward for the future of banking services in Forres and I look forward to these plans developing at pace in the coming weeks and months.”
