The Royal Bank of Scotland announced this morning they are planning to close 259 of its branches next year.
The closures will result in 680 job losses and most are expected to be shut down by mid-2018.
An RBS spokesman said: “More and more of our customers are choosing to do their everyday banking online or on mobile.
“Since 2014 the number of customers using our branches across the UK has fallen by 40% and mobile transactions have increased by 73% over the same period. Over 5 million customers now use our mobile banking app and one in five only bank with us digitally.”
Here are the 18 branches that will close in the north and north-east, when they will be shut and why they are being terminated according to RBS.
ABERDEEN
- Bridge of Don – Set to close on May 17, 2018
“Since 2012 we have seen the way in which people use Royal Bank of Scotland Aberdeen Bridge of Don branch change dramatically, with now 91% of customers already banking in other ways locally.
“Transactions in Royal Bank of Scotland Aberdeen Bridge of Don branch have reduced by 50% since 2012 with now only 40 customers visiting the branch on a weekly basis. 72% of customers are now choosing to bank digitally with us on a regular basis instead.”
- Dyce – Set to close on May 31, 2018
“Since 2012 we have seen the way in which people use Royal Bank of Scotland Dyce branch change dramatically, with now 93% of customers already banking in other ways locally.
“Transactions in Royal Bank of Scotland Dyce branch have reduced by 52% since 2012 with now only 16 customers visiting the branch on a weekly basis. 74% of customers are now choosing to bank digitally with us on a regular basis instead.
ABERDEENSHIRE
-
Ellon – Set to close on June 7, 2018
“Since 2012 we have seen the way in which people use Royal Bank of Scotland Ellon branch change dramatically, with now 88% of customers already banking in other ways locally.
“Transactions in Royal Bank of Scotland Ellon branch have reduced by 36% since 2012 with now only 24 customers visiting the branch on a weekly basis. 65% of customers are now choosing to bank digitally with us on a regular basis instead. ”
-
Banff – Set to close on May 23, 2018
“Since 2012 we have seen the way in which people use Royal Bank of Scotland Banff branch change dramatically, with now 86% of customers already banking in other ways locally.
“Transactions in Royal Bank of Scotland Banff branch have reduced by 33% since 2012 with now only 59 customers visiting the branch on a weekly basis. 57% of customers are now choosing to bank digitally with us on a regular basis instead.”
-
Huntly – Set to close on June 14, 2018
“Since 2012 we have seen the way in which people use Royal Bank of Scotland Huntly branch change dramatically, with now 83% of customers already banking in other ways locally.
“Transactions in Royal Bank of Scotland Huntly branch have reduced by 13% since 2012 with now only 49 customers visiting the branch on a weekly basis. 53% of customers are now choosing to bank digitally with us on a regular basis instead.”
-
Turriff – Set to close on June 26, 2018
“Since 2012 we have seen the way in which people use Royal Bank of Scotland Turriff branch change dramatically, with now 85% of customers already banking in other ways locally.
“Transactions in Royal Bank of Scotland Turriff branch have reduced by 37% since 2012 with now only 26 customers visiting the branch on a weekly basis. 56% of customers are now choosing to bank digitally with us on a regular basis instead.”
INVERNESS
-
Queensgate – Set to close on June 27, 2018
“Since 2012 we have seen the way in which people use Royal Bank of Scotland Inverness Queensgate branch change dramatically, with now 91% of customers already banking in other ways locally.
“Transactions in Royal Bank of Scotland Inverness Queensgate branch have reduced by 47% since 2012 with now only 71 customers visiting the branch on a weekly basis. 55% of customers are now choosing to bank digitally with us on a regular basis instead.”
HIGHLANDS
-
Tongue – Set to close on June 14, 2018
“Since 2012 we have seen the way in which people use Royal Bank of Scotland Tongue branch change dramatically, with now 82% of customers already banking in other ways locally.
“Transactions in Royal Bank of Scotland Tongue branch have reduced by 41% since 2012 with now only 10 customers visiting the branch on a weekly basis. 53% of customers are now choosing to bank digitally with us on a regular basis instead.”
-
Tain – Set to close on June 20, 2018
“Since 2012 we have seen the way in which people use Royal Bank of Scotland Tain branch change dramatically, with now 86% of customers already banking in other ways locally.
“Transactions in Royal Bank of Scotland Tain branch have reduced by 23% since 2012 with now only 75 customers visiting the branch on a weekly basis. 54% of customers are now choosing to bank digitally with us on a regular basis instead.”
-
Mallaig – Set to close on May 17, 2018
“Since 2012 we have seen the way in which people use Royal Bank of Scotland Mallaig branch change dramatically, with now 89% of customers already banking in other ways locally.
“Transactions in Royal Bank of Scotland Mallaig branch have reduced by 34% since 2012 with now only 11 customers visiting the branch on a weekly basis. 58% of customers are now choosing to bank digitally with us on a regular basis instead.”
-
Nairn – Set to close on June 21, 2018
“Since 2012 we have seen the way in which people use Royal Bank of Scotland Nairn branch change dramatically, with now 88% of customers already banking in other ways locally.
“Transactions in Royal Bank of Scotland Nairn branch have reduced by 39% since 2012 with now only 47 customers visiting the branch on a weekly basis. 57% of customers are now choosing to bank digitally with us on a regular basis instead.”
-
Wick – Set to close on May 17, 2018
“Since 2012 we have seen the way in which people use Royal Bank of Scotland Wick branch change dramatically, with now 84% of customers already banking in other ways locally.
“Transactions in Royal Bank of Scotland Wick branch have reduced by 23% since 2012 with now only 56 customers visiting the branch on a weekly basis. 53% of customers are now choosing to bank digitally with us on a regular basis instead.”
-
Aviemore – Set to close on May 31, 2018
“ince 2012 we have seen the way in which people use the Royal Bank of Scotland Aviemore branch change dramatically, with now 91% of customers already banking in other ways locally.
“Transactions in the Royal Bank of Scotland Aviemore branch have reduced by 26% since 2012 with now only 23 customers visiting the branch on a weekly basis. 66% of customers are now choosing to bank digitally with us on a regular basis instead.”
-
Beauly – Set to close on June 6, 2018
“Since 2012 we have seen the way in which people use Royal Bank of Scotland Beauly branch change dramatically, with now 86% of customers already banking in other ways locally.
“Transactions in Royal Bank of Scotland Beauly branch have reduced by 17% since 2012 with now only 27 customers visiting the branch on a weekly basis. 53% of customers are now choosing to bank digitally with us on a regular basis instead.”
-
Grantown – Set to close on June 11, 2018
“Since 2012 we have seen the way in which people use Royal Bank of Scotland Grantown-on-Spey branch change dramatically, with now 86% of customers already banking in other ways locally.
“Transactions in Royal Bank of Scotland Grantown-on-Spey branch have reduced by 27% since 2012 with now only 34 customers visiting the branch on a weekly basis. 55% of customers are now choosing to bank digitally with us on a regular basis instead.”
-
Kyle – Set to close on June 28, 2018
“Since 2012 we have seen the way in which people use Royal Bank of Scotland Kyle branch change dramatically, with now 86% of customers already banking in other ways locally.
“Transactions in Royal Bank of Scotland Kyle branch have reduced by 35% since 2012 with now only 51 customers visiting the branch on a weekly basis. 57% of customers are now choosing to bank digitally with us on a regular basis instead.”
ARGYLL
-
Inveraray – Set to close on June 21, 2018
“Since 2012 we have seen the way in which people use Royal Bank of Scotland Inveraray branch change dramatically, with now 87% of customers already banking in other ways locally.
“Transactions in Royal Bank of Scotland Inveraray branch have reduced by 32% since 2012 with now only 31 customers visiting the branch on a weekly basis. 53% of customers are now choosing to bank digitally with us on a regular basis instead.”
ISLANDS
-
Castlebay – Set to close on June 14, 2018
“Since 2012 we have seen the way in which people use Royal Bank of Scotland Castlebay branch change dramatically, with now 86% of customers already banking in other ways locally.
“Transactions in Royal Bank of Scotland Castlebay branch have reduced by 43% since 2012 with now only 11 customers visiting the branch on a weekly basis. 56% of customers are now choosing to bank digitally with us on a regular basis instead.”
A spokesman for RBS said: “We are communicating with our customers affected by the closure and proactively contacting vulnerable customers and regular branch users.
“We have extended the time between announcing our decision and the branch closure to six months; this has been done so that we can ensure our customers have enough time to consider the right banking options for them and to give us time to support them one-to-one during the transition.
“We know that not all of our customers are comfortable or familiar with using online or mobile banking, so we have created a new specialist taskforce of Royal Bank of Scotland TechXperts who will be dedicated to supporting our customers with training and support with digital skills until the branch closes.”