The MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross has met Treasury ministers in a bid to halt the erosion of face to face banking across the Highlands.
Jamie Stone raised concerns directly with the Economic Secretary to the Treasury, warning that rural communities are being pushed further away from essential financial services as bank closures continue.
Recent announcements in towns such as Dingwall have left some residents facing round trips of up to 100 miles simply to access in person banking.
During the meeting, Mr Stone acknowledged the role of banking hubs and post office counters but argued that they do not adequately support customers who struggle with digital systems or those who have fallen victim to fraud and require face to face assistance.
He also highlighted the strain on small business owners who are being forced to queue at post offices to deposit significant amounts of cash, saying the current arrangements are not fit for purpose in rural economies where cash remains vital.
The discussion also revisited the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023, legislation that gave new powers to the Financial Conduct Authority to safeguard access to cash but stopped short of protecting wider in person banking services.
Mr Stone has previously called for the Act to be updated to include an explicit access to banks provision, and has written to the FCA urging it to reconsider and broaden its existing approach.
The Treasury Minister acknowledged that rural banking access is a genuine issue and confirmed the legislation remains under review, but suggested that improvements to existing banking hubs, including extended opening hours, should be explored before further changes to the law are considered.
Mr Stone agreed to submit detailed casework to illustrate how current assessments fail to reflect real life rural conditions, particularly where limited public transport makes even short journeys impractical.
Commenting after the meeting, Mr Stone said:
“Access to cash and in-person banking is a necessity, not a luxury. Too many of my constituents, particularly older residents and small businesses, are being left behind.
“I will continue pressing for practical improvements to ensure rural communities are not cut off from basic financial services.
“For now, I appreciate the Treasury’s cooperation with my proposals and I’ll be holding the Government to account on this issue.”
For many Highland communities, the debate is no longer theoretical but immediate, as closures reshape town centres and leave vulnerable residents navigating longer journeys and fewer options in an increasingly digital financial system.
