Pensioner launches one-woman crusade to save local bank amid crippling closures

Daily Record

03-05-2025

Evelyn Atkins, 76, is planning a protest outside her Bank of Scotland branch in Moffat, Dumfriesshire, after confirmation it is to be shut down.
A Scots pensioner has launched a one-woman crusade to save her local bank amid a string of crippling closures.
Retired bank worker Evelyn Atkins, 76, is planning a protest outside her Bank of Scotland branch in Moffat, Dumfriesshire, after confirmation it was to be shut down - making the nearest bank more than 20 miles away.
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The OAP has gathered thousands of signatures for a petition and written a heartfelt open letter to banking chiefs pleading with them to keep the branch open - saying she fears more elderly people will fall victim to financial scammers as a result.
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Evelyn said: 'People are very distraught about this. It's a 42-mile round trip to get to the nearest bank and that is not acceptable.
'Nearly a quarter of the population here are in the late seventies and this move targets them directly.
'The bank has been there for about 100 years - it is a fundamental part of the community. I worked as a customer service manager with the Royal Bank of Scotland so I know about this sector.
'Banking is meant to be about serving customers from the cradle to the grave. The headlong plunge to move to digital banking is already leaving people behind and that will get worse.
'This process is happening everywhere and someone needs to stand up to it. This is causing a loss of financial independence and making people more vulnerable to fraud and scams.'
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Branches in 14 towns across the country - including Annan, Moffat, Peebles, Thornhill and Sanquhar - were earmarked to shut this year or early in 2026.
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At the end of February, police were called after a group of around 40 protestors took part in a demonstration in an attempt to halt the closure of the last remaining bank in Barrhead, East Renfrewshire.
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Evelyn said that for many of Moffat's older citizens, a trip to the nearest branch in Dumfries would take three hours by bus.
She said closures were creating a digital banking divide with older people struggling to get to grips with online banking.
In her letter to bank chiefs she wrote: 'This is a generation that were not brought up with computer skills.
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'Mentally, we slow down in our senior years with many facing the onset of dementia.
'The reliance on younger members of the family, friends and others will erode their financial independence and leave them open to scams and fraud.
'These members of our community require face to face contact and the assurance that can only come from well-trained efficient staff.'
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The Moffat branch is set to close in November this year.
Evelyn said she will hold a protest at the branch later this month if bank chiefs do not respond to her plea. She has already gathered a petition of more than 2,000 hand-written signatures and plans to launch an online petition calling for an end to crucial branch closures nationally.
Andrew Bartlett, chief executive of Advice Direct Scotland, said the charity was offering support to those affected by the closures.
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He said: 'The closure of local bank branches can be a challenge for communities, especially for elderly residents who rely on face-to-face services.
'It underscores the urgent need for accessible financial solutions that cater to all demographics, ensuring no one is left behind in the digital age.
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'To retain financial independence, regularly monitor your accounts and set up alerts for unusual activity.
'Use strong, unique passwords for online banking and avoid sharing personal information.
'Stay informed about common scams and consult trusted sources before making financial decisions.
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'If anyone needs support, please contact us for advice from our expert teams who can help.'
Bank of Scotland has said it will introduce Community Bankers in six locations, in addition to those already helping in other communities, to provide targeted banking support where a branch is closing.
A Bank of Scotland spokeswoman said: 'As many customers now choose to bank through their app or online, visits to our Moffat branch have fallen over recent years. The local Post Office offers everyday banking, with cash also available at close by free-to-use ATMs. Customers can also manage their money through our mobile banking apps, online, by calling us or speaking to a Community Banker.'