As you may have seen in the media, TSB have announced a number of branch closures and the TSB has written to Councillors to explain the reasons behind their decision. Both the Aboyne and Banchory branch closures will affect constituents in the Banchory & Mid Deeside ward and these are the details that have been provided for each branch:

“Aboyne
• The Aboyne TSB branch has 3 customers using it regularly each week.
• Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic 85% of our personal banking customers and 87% of our business customers at the branch have visited another branch or used other forms of banking such as online, mobile or telephone banking.
• 65% of our personal banking customers and 72% of our business customers at the branch have used online, mobile or telephone banking.
• The nearest alternative branch is Inverurie which is 27.0 miles away.
• However most day-to-day banking tasks can be carried out at the local Post Office which is under 0.1 miles away.
• The nearest cash machine is under 0.1 miles away.
• The branch will close on 20 January 2021.
• As this branch is a freehold branch if there is a delay in selling the property following the closure, we will look to offer the premises to local charities for short periods of time, subject to local need.

Banchory
• The Banchory TSB branch has 14 customers using it regularly each week.
• 85% of our personal banking customers and 85% of our business customers at the branch have visited another branch or used other forms of banking such as online, mobile or telephone banking.
• 64% of our personal banking customers and 72% of our business customers at the branch have used online, mobile or telephone banking.
• The nearest alternative branch is Stonehaven which is 16.7 miles away.
• The local Post Office is under 0.1 miles away.
• The nearest cash machine is under 0.1 miles away.
• The branch will close on 16 February 2021.
• As this branch is a freehold branch if there is a delay in selling the property following the closure, we will look to offer the premises to local charities for short periods of time, subject to local need.”

The TSB go on to say:

“Our focus ahead of the closures is on helping affected customers to adjust to this transition, particularly the most vulnerable. We are very conscious that some customers may feel left behind by the pace of change in banking. That is why we have programmes in place to provide extra support to those customers who rely on branch banking the most and why we are working with stakeholders to find new ways to support customers and the communities we serve including:

• Tailored one-to-ones for customers that regularly use the branch to help them continue to perform day-to-day banking tasks in the local area.
• A guide explaining ways our customers can continue to bank with us, which we will share with customers and which is available online.
• Our Telephone Banking service is available to customers and will be able to provide support and guidance in transitioning from their local branch.
• And where we cannot provide the support the customer needs, we will help them to switch to another bank.”

Please let me know your views on these closures.