Caithness, Sutherland & Ross MSP Maree Todd has lodged an appeal against a decision not to provide additional cash access services in Tain, after it was confirmed that the town’s Bank of Scotland branch will shut in January 2026.
The closure is part of wider plans by Lloyds Banking Group and follows a series of branch losses across the Highlands, including the recent closure in Golspie.
LINK, the UK’s cash access coordinator, initially concluded that no further provision was needed in Tain, a view the MSP is strongly contesting.
“This decision does not reflect the lived reality for people in Easter Ross and Sutherland,” said Maree Todd MSP.
“The Tain branch is now the only option for many, and its loss could push more people into financial exclusion.”
Ms Todd is calling for a full reassessment that takes into account the lack of alternative branches, digital connectivity issues, limited public transport, and the demographics of the surrounding rural area.
She is also urging LINK and the banking sector to consider a shared banking hub for Tain, a model that has already been introduced in Wick following similar closures.
“The alternative being proposed, a community banker simply doesn’t meet the full range of banking needs, especially for older residents and small businesses who depend on face-to-face service,” she added.
With the Dingwall branch also due to close, many customers in Easter Ross and Sutherland will face a 70-mile round trip to the nearest Bank of Scotland in Inverness.
“There is a clear and growing case for a banking hub here,” Ms Todd said.
“It’s a practical, common-sense solution that protects essential services and ensures rural communities aren’t left behind.”
The call comes amid ongoing concern across the Highlands over access to banking, particularly in areas with aging populations, poor transport links and businesses still reliant on cash.
