TSB BANK CLOSURES AND FINANCIAL EXCLUSION

I have lodged an Early Day Motion in the UK House of Commons condemning the latest proposed bank closures in my constituency. I remain deeply concerned at the stampede of banks out of North Ayrshire with the latest, TSB, planning closures of branches in Kilbirnie, Saltcoats, and Largs.

These latest proposals means the last bank in the entire Garnock Valley is due to close on 24th February, with Saltcoats closing on 30th March and Largs shortly thereafter on 26th April. As a result there will be no TSB presence in my constituency and means that Kilbirnie now joins Beith, Dalry, West Kilbride, Kilwinning, Ardrossan and Stevenston, as yet another town in the North Ayrshire & Arran constituency with no bank at all.

Apart from the effect on our high streets, this financial exclusion is not acceptable. I am disappointed that following my previous meeting with John Glen MP, Treasury Minister, no progress seems to have been made on banking hubs for our town.

I will be pursuing this with the UK Government, which is responsible for banking regulation and am urgently seeking yet another debate on banking provision on our towns to ensure this matter is given the priority it needs.