A CAMPAIGNING councillor has called on major banks to restore their services to three Renfrewshire villages.

Andy Doig said a string of closures has left Kilbarchan, Howwood and Lochwinnoch without any branches, a handful of cash machines and residents struggling to access their own money.

He would like to see the area follow a community banking hub model, where services are set up in post offices in small towns and villages.

The hubs also provide rooms where customers can see managers from their own bank to discuss their finances.

Councillor Doig, who represents the three villages, said it is vital that people still have access to cash and frontline banking services.

He believes the reintroduction of traditional branches, albeit in a different format, would give a boost to local businesses and create jobs, while community hubs would also also provide relief to elderly people who don’t have access to the internet and find it difficult to manage their accounts.

“When I came to Renfrewshire 26 years ago, Lochwinnoch, Kilbarchan and Howwood had at least one bank in them and some, like Kilbarchan, actually had two post offices,” added Councillor Doig.

“I fought in 2013 to persuade RBS to keep their ATM in Lochwinnoch and to provide a mobile banking service but my constituents deserve a better deal.”

Councillor Doig would like to see a scheme similar to one in Cambuslang, South Lanarkshire, where the local community council made a successful application to the Community Access to Cash Pilot (CACP) initiative.

They are taking part in trials to improve access to cash in the town, where banks and post offices have been axed.

Councillor Doig would like the same thing to happen in Kilbarchan, Howwood and Lochwinnoch.

He said: “I am calling for a serious look at this option, which will be a lifeline for the elderly, people on low incomes and small businesses.

“Only months ago, there was a successful campaign fought by Lochwinnoch Community Council to save the local post office in the Spar shop.

“Thankfully, that campaign won the day – for now. “

CACP is an independent initiative supported by the major banks.

Other ideas being piloted include improved cashback from shops, new ATMs and machines for small businesses to deposit their takings.