CUSTOMERS of the only bank in Maybole are furious after hearing it is closing in June with one resident calling it an ‘absolute disgrace’.

Account holders with the Bank of Scotland branch in High Street were sent a letter informing them of the decision, which advises that the nearest available alternative is in Ayr — more than nine miles away.

But for many people, they face a much longer trek to get there as the Maybole branch covers a wide area, including places which have virtually no internet access, according to community council chairman Mark Fletcher.

The letter suggests that internet, mobile and telephone banking are available and invites customers to register, but that is not an option for many, added Mr Fletcher.

He said: “The branch covers all of North Carrick, including places like Straiton which is 20 miles away from Ayr, and they can’t get online because there are signal problems. This is an absolute disgrace. They have not considered people at all.

“Feelings are running high in the town and many people have expressed anger especially as we have already lost the Royal Bank of Scotland which closed because it was not financially viable.

“The Bank of Scotland serves a lot of customers including vulnerable people and others that have no internet at all. It is the final nail in the coffin for the community — which was not consulted.

“I would like to see where the public consultation took place as no-one I have spoken to has been contacted for their views and I would also like to see the economic studies that they claim to have carried out.”

Mr Fletcher says that the only banking service in the town will be a Royal Bank of Scotland mobile unit which comes twice a week but is inadequate in the bad weather with people having to queue outside in the wind and rain.

“This is affecting 10,000 people. Why don’t they consider changing their opening hours? They could open Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday to include one late evening each week.

“It is not acceptable and we will be staging a public meeting and a petition to make the views of the community known,” he added. 

A spokesman for the Bank of Scotland said: “We have made the decision to close our Maybole branch in June. This is because of the changing way customers choose to bank with us, which has resulted in customers using it less often. 

“The majority of customers also now regularly use alternative branches or channels to complete their banking needs.

“We apologise for any inconvenience that this may cause and have informed customers of the closest alternative branch, which is in Ayr.”