TSB set to pull plug on its ATM

A bank in Wishaw is pulling the plug on its free-to-use cash machine despite more people using it.

TSB plans to axe 17 of its branches and cash machines across Scotland as part of a costcutting plan.

Use of the Wishaw machine rose by five per cent according to statistics revealed on TSB’s own website.

TSB revealed in September last year that its branches in Stewarton Street in Wishaw and High Street, Carluke would be amongst the 17 closing.

The Wishaw branch is due to close in September this year with the branch in Carluke closing a couple of months earlier, and both towns losing their ATMs.

Of the 17 machines earmarked for removal from use, eight either show an increase in the number of people using them, or show no change.

The Wishaw machine was one of four to show an increase in usage, the others were; Jedburgh in the Borders, which showed a rise of 13 per cent; the machine in Govan, Glasgow witnessed a 10 per cent increase; while usage of the ATM at Clarkston on the outskirts of Glasgow rose by six per cent.

Fee-charging ATMs are on the increase with customers now having to pay to withdraw cash from 1396 of them, an increase of 565 last year.

The bank has claimed their cost-cutting plan has been led by changing customer behaviour, reduced demand for counter services and cash transactions, and an increase in online banking.

Last year there were a total of 5886 ATMs in Scotland but a study by consumer watchdog Which? revealed that an average of 43 free-to-use points are disappearing each month.

Jenny Ross, editor of Which? Money, said: “Banks like TSB have a responsibility to consult with communities where there may still be a strong appetite for cash and ensure alternative facilities for accessing cash are made available, not just simply shut their doors.”

A TSB Spokesman said:“We are very conscious of the need to ensure customers continue to have access to banking services, including free-to-use ATMs.

“The four branches highlighted — Wishaw, Jedburgh, Govan and Clarkston — all have numerous free-to-use ATMs within a few hundred metres of the branches. Almost nine in 10 customers who use the branches in question already use alternative branches or currently use mobile, digital or telephone services.”