Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 05 March 2026 [Draft]
05 Mar 2026 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
General Question Time
Face-to-face Banking Services
Yet another bank in my Rutherglen constituency is under threat of closure. By my count, nine bank branches have closed in recent years, which has left Blantyre and Cambuslang as banking deserts.
Many individuals, businesses, churches and organisations need access to cash banking, and online or digital banking does not suit everyone. I am also deeply concerned about the impact that further bank closures will have on our local high streets. Will the minister join me in condemning the decimation of face-to-face banking across Scotland and join my calls for better access to banking facilities for all?
In the same item of business
1. Clare Haughey (Rutherglen) (SNP)
SNP
To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the banking industry about maintaining access to face-to-face banking services on high streets...
The Minister for Business and Employment (Richard Lochhead)
SNP
Regulation of financial services is reserved. However, the Scottish Government regularly engages with the sector and the regulator through ministerial engage...
Clare Haughey
SNP
Yet another bank in my Rutherglen constituency is under threat of closure. By my count, nine bank branches have closed in recent years, which has left Blanty...
Richard Lochhead
SNP
The member raises an important issue. I think that all of us who are constituency members have experienced the loss of high street bank branches and face-to-...
Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con)
Con
Last month, the Bank of Scotland announced that it would close its branch in Kelso. That is the ninth closure in the Borders since 2022.I agree with Richard ...
Richard Lochhead
SNP
Such events have taken place in the past; I have attended them and I am happy for that to continue at some point in the near future. Perhaps the new Governme...