Campaigners say Barrhead bank closure is 'doomsday' scenario for elderly and vulnerable
Sean Clerkin held a press conference outside the Bank of Scotland branch in Barrhead which is facing closure yesterday.
The closure of the last bank in Barrhead was yesterday described as 'five minutes to midnight on the doomsday clock' for elderly, vulnerable and disabled people.
That was the message from Sean Clerkin, who has headed up the Save The Last Bank in Barrhead campaign, speaking in front of the Bank of Scotland branch in the town's Main Street.
Previously, the Paisley Daily Express reported how Sean and other protesters took part in a demonstration in a bid to halt the axe of the last remaining bank in Barrhead in March.
The shutters are set to be pulled down for the last time on Wednesday, May 21.
Around 40 campaigners descended on the branch as they cranked up the pressure on top brass at the Bank of Scotland. The premises were also occupied for around 30 minutes with police called.
Sean says that, if there is no replacement of the last outgoing face-to-face banking, it will impact the elderly, vulnerable and disabled who struggle with online banking.
He said: 'Unless there's something to replace it – a banking hub or a credit union coming in, something like that – it's going to decimate the lives of elderly people, disabled people and other vulnerable people.
'The elderly, for example; there's a sheltered housing complex across the road, there's one just down the road and there's an awful lot of elderly people living in Barrhead.
'They depend on the face-to-face banking. Internet banking and banking apps are a foreign country to them, especially people in their 80s, and people who get into their 90s. They're not going to learn this.
'The bottom line is they're dependent on that face-to-face contact and some of them don't trust internet banking either.'
If the closure of the branch goes ahead, customers in surrounding areas such as Neilston, Uplawmoor, Glenburn and Pollok in Glasgow will all be affected. The nearest branch will be Newton Mearns.
Sean accuses the Lloyds Banking Group, which owns the Bank of Scotland, of 'profiteering at the expense of the wider community' and 'stand condemned in the court of public opinion'.
He feels that, although more work is still to be done, there are signs that there could still be life in face-to-face banking surviving in East Renfrewshire.
He added: 'It still needs more action but, East Renfrewshire, they are now talking openly about trying to save a face-to-face banking presence in Main Street by the use of a credit union.
'A private information notice was published for tendering for a credit union across East Renfrewshire.
'And the headquarters would be in Barrhead so that has come from the demonstrations and the number of people taking part in the demonstrations. It's largely as a result of that that East Renfrewshire Council are taking the action that they are taking.
'We are basically saying that the politicians need to get their finger out collectively and they need to get a face-to-face banking presence maintained on the Main Street in Barrhead.'
A Bank of Scotland spokesperson said: 'As many customers now choose to bank through their app or online, visits to our Barrhead branch have fallen over recent years.
'When the branch closes later in May, customers can continue to manage their money online, by calling us, in person at Newton Mearns branch or the local Post Office on Cross Arthurlie Street.'
A council spokesperson said: 'The council has had a long-standing ambition to bring a credit union back into East Renfrewshire. This has intensified with the imminent closure of the last bank in Barrhead.
'We are now making progress on a firm proposal and a paper is due to be considered by our cabinet shortly. Discussions are at an early stage and a location has not yet been identified.'
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