Alarm at the imminent closing of Aberfeldy’s last bank has prompted a poverty activist to consider how the rural Perthshire town can move forward.
Angela Hanvey works for Christians Against Poverty (CAP) at the Highland Perthshire Debt Centre based in Aberfeldy Parish Church.
Part of her work with those who have debt issues is to ask clients to open a new bank account so that all their debts are concentrated in the one place and can be worked away at with CAP’s assistance.
But the Bank of Scotland and the Royal Bank of Scotland have pulled out of Aberfeldy.
Then TSB announced last month that its Aberfeldy branch will close in May.
Soon zero banks will maintain a place where people can walk in and open a current account.
“The low income people we are attempting to help, who have got into debt, are also likely to find getting to Perth a problem,” said Angela.
“Maybe they have no car and let’s face it, buses have been unreliable. If they drive, it’s another thing to budget for when fuel is costly. You can see what an additional worry no local branch gives people.
“For them to open a fresh account, they will have to make a two-hour plus 60 mile round trip to Perth or Blairgowrie and that’s even more if they live rurally.
“No bank in town really hurts. It is one more obstacle in the way of our clients making a start on tackling the nightmare of debt.”
Since hearing the TSB is to go, Angela has heard local councillors and Perthshire politicians bemoaning the situation.
“It’s time to get them round a table, make a stand and take action,” she stated.
Angela put a post on a local Facebook page, trying to generate interest for a banking hub.
“Other places insist banks pull together and share facilities and personnel and create shared banking hubs. We could do this in Aberfeldy."
Angela told the PA: "Mobile bank vans let you take out money but you can’t buy a product, you can’t open an account.
“Come on Perth and Perthshire North MP Pete Wishart. Sort this out, CAP and many local residents are depending on some action for our community.”
