Another big bank bails out on town
Bank of Scotland branch to close in March 2018
Banking in Prestwick has been dealt another savage blow with a third branch closure in just 12 months.
Bosses at the Bank of Scotland are the latest to pull the plug from their over- thecounter operation.
The famous building overlooking The Cross will shut up shop to make way for online business.
It follows hot on the heels of closures at the town’s Clydesdale and Royal Bank of Scotland.
Town business leaders lamented the move this week, but insisted it could now provide the door of opportunity for another trader.
Iain Forrest, chair of the Prestwick BID steering group, said: “The Bank of Scotland provided the town’s businesses with a great service and it is a shame to hear of its closure.
“It does mean there will be an opportunity for another new business to take that prime location and join Prestwick’s growing day and evening economy.
“Prestwick is hoping to become a BID town in a year’s time, which is about businesses working together even more and investing collectively in local improvements – so there are reasons to be confident of a bright future for the town’s economy.”
It leaves just the Main Street’s TSB as the town’s last remaining traditional bank.
Jim Ronney, chair of Prestwick North Community Council, added: “It’s a blow but sadly just a sign of the times.
“Banking has moved progressively towards the internet and there’s no escaping that fact.
“But to lose three branches from the Cross within such a short space of time is bitterly disappointing.”
The bank claimed this week that 69 per cent of the branches customers already used “other branches and other ways to bank such as online and telephone banking”.
A spokesman said: “We have made the difficult decision to close the Bank of Scotland, Prestwick branch on March 6, 2018. This is due to the changing ways our customers choose to bank with us, which has resulted the branch being used less often.
“We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and have informed customers of the closest alternative branch, which is Ayr.”