I couldn’t sleep when I heard the last bank would close
A Personal Struggle with the Closure
I couldn t sleep when I heard – Maggie Dodd, 84, found herself in a state of turmoil when she learned the final bank in her town would be closing its doors. The news left her unable to rest that first night, as she grappled with the uncertainty of how she would manage her finances without a nearby branch. “I was distraught,” she recalled. “I mean, I couldn’t sleep that first night when I realised. I thought, what am I going to do?” For decades, Maggie has been a regular customer at the Bank of Scotland in Lochgilphead, but now her nearest branch lies 37.2 miles away in Oban—a journey that takes nearly an hour. This distance has raised concerns about her ability to adapt to online banking, particularly as she fears falling victim to scams. “I’m frightened,” she admitted. “There’s so much of this scamming business, and I’m always worried that I’ll hit something and press the wrong thing.”
“I was distraught. I couldn’t sleep that first night when I realised. I thought, what am I going to do?”
Community Response and Support
In an effort to ease the transition, Maggie has partnered with her 83-year-old friend Ina Callander. The two now rely on the local post office for their banking needs, a solution Ina has used for years. When Maggie expressed her anxiety, Ina stepped in to offer assistance. “Maggie was really upset and I thought, why not help her? Because that’s what friends are for,” Ina said. This informal buddy scheme, initiated by Karen McCurry, manager of the wellbeing centre Snowdrop Argyll, highlights the growing need for community-based solutions as traditional banking services evolve. “I had people approaching me, telling me they weren’t sleeping at night because the bank was going to close,” McCurry explained. “That’s massive. We always try to think of solutions and how to make things easier for somebody. We can’t change what’s happening outside a lot of the time, but we can help somebody feel a bit better about it, a bit more confident.”
“I had people approaching me, telling me they weren’t sleeping at night because the bank was going to close— and that’s massive.”
The Bank’s Justification
Lloyds Banking Group, which operates the Bank of Scotland, cited the decline in customer demand for in-person banking as the reason for closing the Lochgilphead branch. According to the group, most customers now prefer digital alternatives, making the physical branch unsustainable. However, this decision has sparked worry among residents, especially those who rely on the branch for daily transactions. BBC Your Voice received numerous concerns from locals, who fear the closure will disproportionately affect elderly and vulnerable populations. “Even today we had two people whose cards aren’t working,” said Adriano Pia, owner of the Argyll Café. “I’ve had times where I’ve had to tell people just to take it, so they don’t go hungry because they’re stuck.”
“Even today we had two people whose cards aren’t working. I’ve had times where I’ve had to tell people just to take it, so they don’t go hungry because they’re stuck.”
Local Businesses Faced with Challenges
The closure has also created ripple effects for local businesses. At the Community Shop, manager Scott McBride voiced concerns over the impact on the charity’s insurance coverage. “We either extend our insurance, and that comes at a cost, which ultimately comes with a risk as well,” he explained. “Because we’re then potentially holding more cash on-site.” Meanwhile, the post office, while a temporary solution, has its own limitations. Anna Dudziak, the sub-postmaster in Lochgilphead, noted that she cannot provide the same level of services as a bank. “The problem is they’re telling people to go to the post office, saying ‘they can do it for you,’ but at the same time, they set up limits for cash withdrawals, cash deposits, and cheque deposits that we can’t do for people,” she said. “Most people understand, but every day we have people really, really angry and they blame the post office.”
“The problem is they’re telling people to go to the post office, saying ‘they can do it for you,’ but at the same time, they set up limits for cash withdrawals, cash deposits, and cheque deposits that we can’t do for people.”
A Broader Trend Across Scotland
Lochgilphead is not alone in facing the consequences of bank branch closures. According to figures from the consumer watchdog Which?, a total of 742 bank branches have shut down across Scotland since 2015. The Caithness, Sutherland, and Easter Ross constituency has seen the highest number of closures, with 30 banks disappearing in a decade. In Argyll, Bute, and South Lochaber, 25 branches have closed, raising questions about accessibility in rural areas. Despite this, Argyll and Bute Council had previously proposed a Banking Hub in Lochgilphead, where multiple banks could share facilities to provide face-to-face services. However, their bid was rejected. Link, the body that evaluates cash access, argued that the area is already well-served by free-to-use ATMs and the local post office. Yet, for many, this is not enough. The Lochgilphead branch is one of 28 Bank of Scotland locations closing this year, underscoring the ongoing shift toward digital banking.
Advocacy for Better Access
As the debate continues, community leaders are pushing for more support. Dougie Philand, the Provost of Argyll, expressed hope that Link would reconsider its stance. “We, myself and the community council, will keep an eye on the difficulties that people are experiencing and at least we can give the evidence and be able to say ‘look, we do need a banking hub here,’” he stated. This sentiment reflects a growing concern that while technology offers convenience, it may leave some populations behind. A spokeswoman for Lloyds Banking Group acknowledged the challenge, emphasizing the availability of alternative services. “In addition to our app or over the phone, customers can use their local Post Office to manage their money alongside PayPoint locations to deposit cash,” she said. “We’re giving our customers the flexibility to bank wherever and whenever they need us.”
“In addition to our app or over the phone, customers can use their local Post Office to manage their money alongside PayPoint locations to deposit cash.”
Looking Ahead: The UK Government’s Role
The UK government is currently reviewing access to face-to-face banking services, with a final report expected in October. This initiative aims to address the growing divide between digital banking and traditional in-person options. For Maggie and Ina, the closure has forced them to rethink their routines, but it has also strengthened their bond. “It’s not just about the bank; it’s about the community coming together to support one another,” Maggie said. As the review progresses, the question remains: will the changes benefit all, or will the most vulnerable be left to navigate a rapidly evolving financial landscape on their own?
“It’s not just about the bank; it’s about the community coming together to support one another.”
