Edinburgh residents are celebrating after successfully saving their local Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) branch from closure.
The Bruntsfield branch, which was set to shut its doors on September 26, has been granted a reprieve following a petition organised by local MP Ian Murray.
RBS, owned by NatWest, had initially planned to close the branch as part of a wider programme of closures scheduled for September 2024. However, the bank has now decided to keep the Bruntsfield location open "for now".
The campaign to save the branch gathered significant support, with over 1,000 signatures collected since April. RBS had previously justified the planned closure by citing the rise of digital banking.
The bank stated that over 80 per cent of its active current account holders now use digital services, and more than 97 per cent of retail accounts are opened online.
Despite this trend, RBS acknowledged the importance of its branch network. A spokesperson said: "We commit to no further review of our Royal Bank of Scotland branch network until at least 2026."
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Ian Murray thanked campaigners for their efforts
PA
The bank also emphasised its efforts to support customers who are not comfortable with digital banking, including making over 200,000 proactive calls last year and providing experts for guidance.
Local MP Ian Murray expressed his gratitude to the community for their support.
He wrote on social media: "Thank you to everyone who signed my petition to Keep RBS Bruntsfield Open.
"I have just been informed that the branch will not be closing on 26th September as was previously planned as RBS want to ensure that local residents still have access to cash."
Murray emphasised that the fight is not over, stating: "There is still a battle long-term for the future of RBS in Bruntsfield, so please sign my petition here."
"Just like with Gracemount Leisure and Strathearn Road Delivery Office, I cannot thank enough those that have signed my petitions to keep our critical local services open."
The MP continues to encourage residents to sign the petition to secure the branch's long-term future.
The Bruntsfield branch's reprieve comes amidst a wider trend of bank branch closures across the UK. Research by consumer group Which? has revealed that over 6,000 bank branches have shut their doors since 2015.
This significant reduction in physical banking locations has led to over public access to cash and essential financial services.
The closures have particularly affected millions of people who rely on face-to-face banking services.
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Bank branch closures are continuing at an 'alarming rate', according to Which?GETTY As high streets across the nation continue to evolve, the loss of bank branches represents a major shift in the way Britons conduct their financial affairs.
Sam Richardson, deputy editor of Which? Money, commented on the milestone of over 6,000 bank branch closures in nine years:
"This underscores the seismic shift that has taken place in terms of our banking habits and the character of the British high street.
"While some may hardly notice the closure of their local branch as they seamlessly switch to online banking, for others reliant on face-to-face services, the impact can be disastrous. It's crucial that the government prioritises opening more hubs quickly, so that people aren't left behind."
