Villagers who are to lose their local bank have been offered lessons in how to use the internet.
Kinghorn’s Bank of Scotland is to close on November 1 despite a campaign to keep it open.
It was also confirmed that with it will go the community’s only ATM.
Lloyds Banking Group, of which the Bank of Scotland is part, confirmed it will offer training in the branch to help customers navigate its online banking service.
Local councillor George Kay presented a petition with 600 signatures calling for retention of the High Street branch to the bank at a meeting with group public affairs manager David Martin to discuss the impact on local residents.
He said: “I was disappointed that he did not respond to a petition with 600 signatures nor to the requests of elected members for the continuation of banking in Kinghorn.
“I further regret that a recent response from Mr Martin indicated that after consideration the ATM would also be withdrawn.
“This is a bitter blow.”
When it was announced in August that the part-time branch was one of 23 across Scotland to go in the latest round of cuts, worries were voiced about the impact on customers unable to travel easily to bank in Burntisland or Kirkcaldy.
However, Mr Kay and SNP colleagues Roger Mullin MP and David Torrance MSP, who also attended the meeting and shared his disappointment at the loss, encouraged people to take up the offer of digital tuition.
Mr Mullin said: “Although it is disappointing that the branch is to close I hope that the training provided by the bank will enable customers to confidently access a digital service if they are unable to travel to neighbouring branches but have access to digital technology.”
Mr Torrance said: “I am conscious of the impact this closure will have upon the local community, particularly for elderly residents, and I hope that this training may go some way towards filling the gap left by the closure.”
Already 60 per cent of the Kinghorn branch’s customers also use alternative means of banking, including internet and telephone banking, but the training sessions timed to coincide with the closure are intended to help more access the internet service.
A Bank of Scotland spokesman said: “We have taken the decision to close the Kinghorn branch because of the changing way customers choose to bank with us.
“The majority of our customers in Kinghorn now regularly use alternative branches or other channels such as online and telephone banking.
“Bank of Scotland is fully committed to helping all our customers and communities with their digital skills and this digital training facility is widely available across our branch network.”
Training will be available next week and the week after during branch opening hours, which are Tuesdays and Fridays from 10am to 3pm.
