As more
banking services move online, campaigners in Glasgow are fighting to keep local
bank branches open. Many disabled and elderly people find it
difficult to access their money without in-person services. With more
than 700 bank branches closing across Scotland in recent years, concerns about
financial accessibility are growing.
Seven
campaigners from Glasgow with disabilities are calling for banks to remain
open, as many disabled people rely on visiting branches in person and they
need to do their banking on a weekly basis.
The
campaigners add “If a bank shuts our support time is badly affected, because we
have to travel into town or for miles to reach a bank. If that bank is the
only one around for miles, and is only open for a few hours, lots of people
will be queueing up to use it. This means we have to use hours of our
support time doing our banking.”
This is
affecting over a million disabled people in Scotland, and it doesn’t stop
there. As banks continue to close, it is also impacting vulnerable families and
older people.
One of the campaigners from the steering
committee, Rebecca O’Donnell, says it is important that banks remain open, as
many people cannot use cards. “It’s not just about banking, it’s about people
too. We miss going to the bank every week and talking to our local banker.”
The Campaign
Steering Committee (CSC) was formed in early 2024 after members of the Glasgow
TAG (The Advisory Group) voted on which issue they wanted to focus on. The
problem of bank closures was raised, as many members were unhappy about the
number of local branches shutting down.
Since
starting, the CSC has been very active. They hosted their own banking
conference, inviting representatives from major banks, local politicians, and
organisations such as the Financial Conduct Authority. However, none of those
invited attended. Despite this, the campaigners were not discouraged and have
continued their efforts.
The CSC has
been working very closely with Martin Rhodes MP, the Member of Parliament
for Glasgow where he wrote a letter to
all of the banks on behalf the CSC
The CSC has also been fortunate to work with an MP.
Martin took the campaign further by speaking about the Campaign Steering
Committee in Westminster and highlighting the work the group has been doing.
The CSC has also
visited several banking hubs to assess how accessible they are.
A banking hub is a
shared space, similar to a Post Office, where customers can carry out basic
banking services. The counter is usually run by a Post Office employee, known
as a postmaster, who can help with everyday transactions. These hubs are
typically open Monday to Friday, from 9am to 5pm.
Since starting the campaign, members of the CSC feel that
more banks, MPs, and other organisations are beginning to listen to them about
this important issue.
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