Lossiemouth cash runs dry as bank closure talks set for Westminster
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Bank machines in Lossiemouth ran out of cash at the weekend after the closure of a local Bank of Scotland branch.
Locals were having to devise other ways to get their hands on cash, with every other ATM in the town running out of money.
Moray Conservative MP Douglas Ross, pictured outside the bank which closed recently, has secured a debate in Westminster on Wednesday, June 12, in relation to bank closures across the whole of Moray.
16 banks across Moray have closed since 2015.
Speaking ahead of the debate on Wednesday, Douglas said: "When the Bank of Scotland announced last year that it was closing its branches in Lossiemouth and Keith I held public meetings in both towns.
"We must try to keep as many local branches open as possible and, while it has taken several months to secure this debate, I wanted the opportunity to challenge the government about their response, particularly if a closure will see the last bank in a town removed.
"Bank closures have a detrimental effect on our towns right across Moray. It effects access to accounts and money for both business and private customers. Another massive implication of the closures is the removal of cash machines."
Postmaster at Lossiemouth Post Office, Tony Rook, also spoke on the issue. The Post Office has one of what is now just two cash points in the Moray town.
Mr Rook told the Northern Scot: "Myself and my team here at Lossiemouth Post Office absolutely understand how important the Post Office is to helping our customers get access to cash when they need it, especially as bank branches close.
"That’s why we work tirelessly to support our customers, and I’d like to reassure them that we are doing everything we can to ensure they can get their cash out from us easily and conveniently.
"With the recent bank branch closure in the town, we have been very busy and I appreciate some customers may not have been able to withdraw cash from the ATM over the weekend – but this is by no means a regular occurrence, and we are adapting to make sure that it isn’t.
"We will always do our best to support the Lossie community and customers."
