The news comes as the Royal Bank of Scotland confirmed they will shut their branch in the village as planned next month – despite a petition with over 1,000 signatures opposing the move.

Lochwinnoch Councillor Andy Doig circulated the petition round businesses and shops in the village in August after it emerged that the banking group intended to slam the doors of the Church Street branch shut and lock them for good.

At the time, he told The Gazette: “We need to stand united as a community and let RBS know we will not let corporate interests over-ride the needs of our village.” Over 1,000 people agreed with Doig and signed the petition to try and stop the closure, which went against their 2010 customer charter in which they made a public assurance that they would not close a bank which was the last outlet in a community.

That promise came two years after the bank was bailed out by the taxpayer after the Westminster Government stepped in.

Doig, who also represents Johnstone and Kilbarchan, also wrote to RBS management to express his disappointment at the plans and relay the feelings of his constituents.

The Gazette can also reveal that he recently had a meeting with a key figure from the bank but that the closure is still going ahead.

He said: “Recently a representative from Lochwinnoch Community Council and myself had a meeting with an RBS regional chief executive in Kilbirnie to put the strong case for RBS retaining its Lochwinnoch Branch.

“I gave him a petition with more than 1,000 signatures from villagers calling on them to reverse their closure decision. Sadly they will not relent and the branch will close in November.

“Politics is the art of the possible and we do not always get what we want so we need now, as a community, to work with RBS to get from them the best deal we can for Lochwinnoch.

“They gave assurances that their ATM will remain in the village, said businesses are interested in buying their building, said a mobile van may be a possibility, and revealed they are willing to come and speak to the Elderly Forum who are particularly worried about the Branch closing.

“There is also hope that the new Post Office in the Spar may be able to take up some of the current functions for village businesses which RBS presently delivers.” But Councillor Doig believes that there is still a need for a banking outlet in the village and he has gone about trying to make that happen.

He explained: “I have been in discussions with Johnstone Credit Union about them possibly providing a Credit Union service to the village, and they have agreed in principle.

“Johnstone Credit Union can operate anywhere in Renfrewshire and, as my wife and I can testify as we have been members for the last eight years, they are one of the oldest and best Credit Unions in Renfrewshire.

“I am talking to the council officers about a possible venue, and if we can get a venue in the village all we need for it to become a reality is a committed group of volunteers.” A Renfrewshire Council spokesperson said: “This council has a strong track record in giving support and financial backing to the credit union sector in Renfrewshire. That includes our £500,000 credit union development fund which is open to all local credit unions. That fund has also supported our scheme to make available credit union accounts for all S1 pupils with £10 invested in each account by the council.

“As regards the possibility of credit union advice sessions at Lochwinnoch Library, we will now look to have more discussions with Johnstone Credit Union and learn more about any detailed proposal.”