A PETITION has been launched to try and stop the doors of Lochwinnoch’s last bank from being slammed shut and locked for good, writes Rory Cassidy.

The Royal Bank of Scotland have announced that they plan to shut their branch in the village - which is the last bank in the loch-side settlement - on November 11 this year.

Locals have been up in arms over the plans as it will leave them without the ability to have face-to-face chats about their finances on their doorsteps.

And now a hard-working councillor has launched a petition to try and persuade RBS to ditch their plans.

Andy Doig, who represents the village, wants as many locals as possible to put their name to the petition.

He told The Gazette: “Lochwinnoch is still reeling from the news that the RBS branch in the village is to go. I am not taking this lying down and have already circulated a petition to most village shops and businesses calling for the retention of the bank branch.

“I would also urge as many Lochwinnoch residents as possible to sign it. 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.” The SNP-man, who also represents Johnstone and Kilbarchan, also slammed RBS for breaking a promise to their customers and not honouring assurances that they would never close a branch if it were the last banking outlet in a community He said: “I have written to RBS management making clear my opposition to the Lochwinnoch closure and asked them why they binned their promise in their 2010 customer charter.

“In that they made a public assurance that they would not close a bank which was the last outlet in a community.

“Across the UK there are 44 RBS branches going, 10 of them in Scotland. Two of those ten at least, Castletown in Caithness, and Lochwinnoch, represent the last bank in these villages.

“I would remind RBS management that they have a social responsibility as well as a financial services responsibility.

“In 2008 RBS was saved by the UK taxpayer as the Westminster Government at that time rightly calculated that it was in the public interest to do so. RBS in Edinburgh should listen closely to the voice of Lochwinnoch as it in the public interest of the village that they retain our RBS branch.” And the councillor says he has been inundated with the views of concerned residents who are worried about their ability to access their money when the changes come into force.

He explained: “Already a wave of constituents have been in touch. Pensioners, small businesses, and the low paid without private transport, will all feel this closure hard.

“The case for closure is flawed as RBS informed clients that services could be transferred to the local Post Office, or use internet banking. Lochwinnoch’s Post Office is in the middle of a consultation to move to the Spar Store, so it is in a state of transition, and Lochwinnoch has one of the worst internet signals in Renfrewshire.” An RBS spokeswoman said the changes were due to changing customer needs and behaviours with transactions in Lochwinnoch dropping 19 per cent over the last few years. The branch is only open for 15 hours a week and only 19 customers use the branch on a weekly basis.

He added: “Over our whole branch network there has been a 30 per cent drop in branch transactions since 2010 as people do their banking where and when it is convenient for them, whilst online and mobile transactions have grown by over 200 per cent. We expect these trends to continue as more and more of our customers bank with us through our mobile app, by online and telephone and through our upgraded ATM network.” The bank has come to an agreement with the local Post Office so that customers can withdraw cash and check balances free of charge. They will also be able to pay money in and businesses will be able to get coinage. The ATM will also be retained.