Super-slow broadband speeds in Highland Perthshire are “making a mockery” of the Royal Bank of Scotland’s decision to close local branches in favour of online banking.
RBS bosses announced last week they are shutting 62 branches across Scotland, with the loss of nearly 160 jobs.
They said that the decision was based on customers numbers dropping by almost 50% since 2012 and they said internet banking had soared by 73 per cent.
However, figures obtained by The Courier show that broadband connection speeds in local areas affected by the bank closures fall well below the UK average.
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Download speeds at Aberfeldy, Cromrie, Kinross and Pitlochry are among Britain’s bottom 20%, while only 0.4% of the people in Aberfeldy and Pitlochry have access to superfast speeds, compared to a national average of 40.8%.
Dunblane, where the local branch is also earmarked for closure, fares better with 33.2%, but still has a below average download speed.
Highland councillor Mike Williamson said: “This absolutely makes a mockery of RBS’s claim that people could use internet banking instead.
“I know that there are improvements in the pipeline, but there are parts of the area which suffer from very low connection rates. It shows that people shouldn’t have to rely on online banking.”
Tracie Hall, who runs the Calluna Cafe at Pitlochry, said: “This is going to be a real loss to the community.
“As a business, we need somewhere to take our money at the end of the day. We’ve been told to go to the post office but, to me, that’s not ideal.”
She said: “Pitlochry is such a touristy area and I know a lot of visitors use the branch to change their money. Now – and because they’re closing Aberfeldy too – everyone has to go into Perth to do their banking.
“Personally, I don’t have issues with broadband speeds because I signed up to the HPCP (Highland Pertshire Communities Partnership) wireless system, but other people could be badly affected.”
Tory MSP for Mid-Scotland and Fife Murdo Fraser added: “Cutting the branch network to the bone might be good for RBS’s bottom line but it isn’t good for people in rural areas. Admittedly, more people are banking online but for people with poor broadband connection, like those in Highland Perthshire, this simply isn’t possible.”
He said: “RBS must rethink their branch rationalisation, particularly in this part of the world, where services are not accessed easily online. RBS promotes their business as the ‘Royal Bank for Scotland’ and I would encourage them to live up to this slogan.”
Bank of Scotland also announced a raft of closures, including branches in Carnoustie and Lochgelly.
