By Gregg Kelly

BANK customers across East Renfrewshire have been left fuming after being told a number of TSB branches are to slash their opening hours.

The cost-cutting move will affect those who do their banking at branches in Barrhead, Clarkston and Thornliebank.

From July, the doors of the Barrhead office will be closed on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Meanwhile, the Clarkston branch will be shut on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, with the Thornliebank building locked up on Mondays and Wednesdays.

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Customers in Clarkston are being advised to visit the Thornliebank branch on affected days – even though both branches will actually be closed on Mondays and Wednesdays.

Rosaleen Reilly, chair of Barrhead Community Council, is among those left disappointed by TSB’s decision.

She said: “It’s appalling that TSB customers in Barrhead won’t be able to use their branch when they need it. What about elderly people who can’t make the journey to other branches in East Renfrewshire?

“When banking errors can leave people without any money for days, the last thing East Renfrewshire needs is fewer opening hours.”

In February this year, TSB announced that a computer glitch which affected two million customers contributed to a £105million loss.

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) fears branches that are being hit with reduced opening hours could end up being shut permanently.

Hisashi Kuboyama, FSB’s development manager, said: “In Barrhead, these changes will reduce local footfall. It will make it more difficult to run a business, especially if you operate in our cash-dependent retail and hospitality industries.

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“UK Ministers must stop sitting on their hands when it comes to bank branch closures and uncertainty over our ATM network. We need to see policymakers look at the impact on the economic health of local communities.”

The announcement by TSB is the latest blow to beleaguered bank customers in East Renfrewshire.

A number of banks have already been lost in recent times, including the TSB branch in Newton Mearns.

It has also been confirmed there won’t be any job losses at the East Renfrewshire branches as a result of the reduced hours.

Renfrewshire South MSP Tom Arthur, whose constituency includes Barrhead, said: “High street banks are hugely important to our communities. People and businesses depend on them to help keep local economies running.

“I must acknowledge TSB’s intention to reduce hours at their Barrhead branch. I have been in regular contact with TSB, who have thankfully confirmed that this change in service will not result in job losses and that partners will be on hand to specifically help customers who use the branch regularly so they are clear on how this change in service affects them.”

TSB chiefs defend controversial decision

Bosses at the TSB have defended the decision to drastically reduce opening hours at their East Renfrewshire branches.

David Godfrey, TSB spokesman, said that closing branches on specific days will help the bank to maintain a presence in the area.

Highlighting the move towards digital banking in recent years, he told the Barrhead News: “People are using banks less and less. We want to keep the branches open – and making these adjustments means that people can still use their local branch.”

There was anger in 2016 when TSB announced it was to close its Ayr Road branch in Newton Mearns, with staff being transferred to the Clarkston office.

However, addressing concerns that the reduction of opening hours at the branches in Barrhead, Clarkston and Thornliebank is the forerunner of a decision to shut their doors for good, Mr Godfrey said: “There aren’t any plans to close the branches that are having their hours reduced.”