A Lanarkshire bank due to shut this month has confirmed there will be no alternative to its closure.
Bank of Scotland's Carluke branch will close on June 27 after parent company Lloyds Banking Group announced the decision earlier this year.
They said customers now using online banking has reached an all-time high as 60 other branches across the UK meet the same fate.
The move has been fought in recent months by local politicians who have urged Lloyds to reconsider.
One alternative was the possibility of mobile branches and community bankers being put in place in Carluke.
But the Clydesdale town has been deemed not to meet the criteria used by Bank of Scotland for this to go ahead.
It now means residents need to rely on the Post Office or travel to Lanark or Wishaw to do their banking.
Lanark and Hamilton East MP Angela Crawley and Clydesdale MSP Màiri McAllan met with Bank of Scotland again last Friday, May 27, in another bid to save the Lanarkshire branch, and have since shared their disappointment at the subsequent update.
However, despite the closure, no staff will be made redundant and Bank of Scotland confirmed they have been reaching out to customers affected.
Lanark and Hamilton East MP Angela Crawley told Lanarkshire Live : “I am grateful to Bank of Scotland for meeting with us again and for listening to the concerns of our constituents at the closure of the Carluke branch.
“While it is welcome that no staff will be made redundant as a result of this closure, it is disappointing that Carluke will be left without a bank and that alternatives to closure were dismissed.
“However, it is welcome that Bank of Scotland have confirmed there are no long-term plans to close either the Wishaw or Lanark branches.”
Clydesdale MSP Màiri McAllan added: “It is disappointing that Bank of Scotland have decided not to consider alternatives to closure of the Carluke bank. Myself and Angela Crawley MP have met with Bank of Scotland twice, and at these meetings have presented the views of our constituents, and the strength of feeling expressed clearly through the signatures to our petition.
“It will however bring some reassurance that none of the staff will be made redundant, and Bank of Scotland has confirmed there are no long-term plans to close Lanark branch – which takes on an increasingly important role for the wider Clydesdale community.
“I have also been reassured that Carluke Post Office is secure and there is no threat of closure to this.”
A Bank of Scotland spokesperson said on the closure: “Just like many other high street businesses, fewer customers are choosing to visit our branches.
"Our branch network is an important way for us to support our customers, but we need to adapt to the significant growth in customers choosing to do most of their everyday banking online.
"When our Carluke branch closes, customers can continue to bank with us at the local Post Office, and access cash via free-to-use ATMs nearby."
Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.
And did you know Lanarkshire Live is on Facebook? Head on over and give us a like and share!
