Born in 1946 and brought up in Cupar, Fife, I was educated at the local school - 
Banffshire & Buchan Coast MSP Stewart Stevenson has welcomed
the announcement by Lloyds Banking Group that it is to sell the former TSB
Scotland branches in Buckie, Banff,
Fraserburgh and Peterhead to the Co-operative Bank.
The local MSP says that the move should
secure the future of the branches and local jobs as a result. Lloyds Banking Group owns Bank of Scotland
which also has branches in each of the towns.
When Bank of Scotland and Halifax merged, all local Halifax branches closed leading to a
reduction in competition and choice in the high street.
Commenting, Stewart Stevenson said:
“While there are a number of areas which are still
to be clarified, I welcome the fact that these former TSB Scotland
branches will now once again be operating independently from Lloyds Banking
Group.
“History shows us that where a bank owns more than
one branch in a town, it is not too long before there are closures and only one
branch is left. We have seen this quite
recently with the Bank of Scotland
and the Halifax,
but also in the past with the Royal Bank and the National Commercial Bank, and
the Clydesdale and the North of Scotland Bank.
I am convinced that had things carried on, we would have seen the
closure of either the Bank of Scotland
branch or the Lloyds TSB branch in each town where they both have a presence.
“With the Co-operative Bank taking over the
business, this should mean increased choice and competition, which can only be
good for the consumer. In addition, this
should also mean that the jobs in these branches are secure for the future.
“The Co-operative have said that they will use the
TSB brand from Summer 2013 and, as a respected name with a long history of
providing banking services in the North-east, I would like to see that
continue.”
