The town’s last bank branch closed earlier this month and community representatives are asking for a review of LINK’s cash-access assessment
Larkhall residents and community representatives are continuing to campaign for the future of financial facilities in the area following the closure of the town’s last bank branch.
Bank of Scotland on Union Street closed its doors earlier this month, despite a 2000-signature petition and numerous appeals from local politicians and customers asking for the decision to be delayed or reconsidered.
A leading community group called it “a difficult pill to swallow”, while politicians and campaigners are continuing to press for alternative provision and the area’s MP says cash-access organisation LINK is to “look again” at the decision not to recommend establishment of a banking hub.
Community group Larkhall Plan Partnership (LPP) posted on Facebook: “It’s disappointing that [the bank’s] own figures of 41,000 customers, 1400 businesses and the proposed new housing in the area wasn’t enough to change their mind.
“Our campaign is supported by our MP, MSPs, South Lanarkshire Council and local people. While the bank has now gone, the fight isn’t over as discussions are being had with the future in mind about what banking services in the town could look like – we continue to explore options to bring banking services to our town.”
The group had organised a busy demonstration outside the branch last month ahead of its closure, supported by local residents and politicians including Larkhall councillor Richard Nelson, who has been a leading voice opposing the loss of the branch.
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Now Imogen Walker, the MP for Hamilton & Clyde Valley, has announced in a Facebook update that “LINK has agreed to look again at their decision for a banking hub in Larkhall” following weeks of discussions.
A LINK spokesperson told the Hamilton Advertiser: “We have spoken with the MP and MSP for Larkhall to ensure our assessment is based on the most up‑to‑date information. We will share an update in due course.”
Ms Walker said: “I’m grateful that LINK has listened to the points I made on behalf of my constituents and agreed to look again at their assessment – they will visit Larkhall to go through the concerns in detail, which is positive news.
“Local people have been very clear about the impact that the loss of the branch will have and how much they value face-to-face banking. Larkhall is a great town with so much going for it, and I hope that LINK will see the benefits of a hub as part of the offer on the high street.”
She added of the suggestion that Larkhall customers travel instead to the bank’s remaining Hamilton branch: “It’s just not that easy in reality for everyone to make the trip, and face-to-face service in town makes a big difference to many of my constituents.
“The community has come together over the closure of the Bank of Scotland, with cross-party support from councillors to our MSP Davy Russell, who have all spoken up, and I’m glad I was able to help with making the case to LINK – I’ll keep working on this issue because I believe that all of our communities should have their voices heard.”
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Councillor Nelson said this week that the loss of two cash machines associated with the Bank of Scotland branch represents a “material change” to LINK’s original assessment of cash facilities and has called for a review, saying: “This raises serious concerns about reasonable provision of cash access, particularly for vulnerable residents, those with limited mobility, and individuals who are digitally excluded.”
He has written repeatedly to Bank of Scotland, LINK, the Scottish Government and the Financial Conduct Authority about the impact of closing the town’s last bank branch, asking for the closure to be paused – and put forward a unanimously-agreed motion alongside ward colleague Ross Clark which also saw South Lanarkshire Council write to the same organisations to express the authority’s concerns.
The Larkhall representative wrote last week to Ms Walker asking her to raise the issue with the Treasury and saying: “LINK’s assessment treats ATMs and Post Office as adequate substitutes for a full-service bank branch – this approach fails to reflect the lived reality in Larkhall, particularly for elderly residents, people with disabilities, and local businesses that rely on face-to-face banking, privacy, assisted transactions, and reliable services.”
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He also praised the cross-party work on the issue as he presented the motion on the bank closure at last month’s council meeting, including thanking Councillor Clark and MSPs Meghan Gallacher and Davy Russell and saying: “Their involvement demonstrates something vitally important: this issue is cross-party, and it is not about politics – it is about people.”
LPP chair Nancy Barr said following the public demonstration: “Folk in the community are hugely concerned by this closure. It will leave us with no bank in the town and only one cash machine at one end of the main street. The most vulnerable people will be the most affected.
“Larkhall’s high street is a popular shopping destination for people from nearby towns who know they can come here and access a range of service. On top of that, hundreds of new homes are being built so the town’s population is growing.”
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A Bank of Scotland spokesperson previously told the Hamilton Advertiser: “The way people are banking has changed, as more than ever, customers are choosing to manage their money through our app.
“Customers can continue to do their everyday banking on our app, by calling us or the nearby local Post Office in each town.”
The bank added that customers can also PayPoint locations to deposit cash, with other alternatives including the Hamilton branch, mobile and phone banking and banking hubs such as those in Carluke and Rutherglen.
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