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Dingwall's Clydesdale bank branch gets a reprieve amid the Covid-19 pandemic


By Scott Maclennan

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MP Ian Blackford outside his Dingwall High Street office.
MP Ian Blackford outside his Dingwall High Street office.

Ross, Skye and Lochaber MP Ian Blackford has welcomed news that the Dingwall branch of the Clydesdale Bank has received a stay of execution amid the Covid-19 outbreak.

Virgin Money – which merged with Clydesdale Bank last autumn – announced that it will not now proceed with plans to consolidate its network of local branches “until further notice.”

Mr Blackford had pressed Virgin Money UK to reconsider plans to close the Dingwall branch after a wave of branch closures across the north that has caused significant obstacles to locals accessing money.

Major banks have been deaf to arguments that people can do most of their banking online with many local stores unable to do that due to poor broadband coverage and distances from Post Offices means they have nowhere to put their takings.

Mr Blackford described the announcement as “good news” for the town’s residents, saying: “The decision not to proceed with the planned closures and consolidations in the branch network at this time is to be welcomed.

“It is to be hoped that there will now be proper consultation on this issue so that people in Dingwall – and other small towns – will not suffer as a result of this banking merger. I look forward to discussing the matter further once the current crisis is over.”

As spokeswoman for Virgin Money said: “This decision recognises the unprecedented impact that the spread that Coronavirus has had in the UK and the uncertainty the current situation brings for everyone.

“At Virgin Money, we are fully committed to supporting our customers and employees during this challenging period. Our priority is to continue providing financial services for customers whilst keeping our colleagues safe.

“While we are committed to protecting our branch and contact centre services, we are encouraging all customers to use mobile and internet banking as the safest and quickest way to take care of the majority of their banking needs.

“This helps to leave our physical spaces and phonelines as clear as possible for those customers that need them the most.”


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