Lloyds chairman to meet MP over bank hub idea

Philip Grant, the chairman of the Scottish executive committee for Lloyds Banking Group, which includes the Bank of Scotland, has agreed to Jamie Stone MP’s request to meet and discuss opening shared banking facilities in the Highlands.

Mr Stone has also written to the Royal Bank of Scotland, TSB and Clydesdale Bank but has yet to receive replies.

The Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross MP said: "I am pleased that Lloyds Bank accepts we need to change how banking operates in the far north.

“My constituents shouldn’t have to travel more than 100 miles just to access banking services and its high time that banks respond to the banking crisis we are facing in the far north and other rural areas of the UK.

“If banks were to work together they could provide a joint branch in every community over a certain size giving customers face-to-face advice and the ability to accept cash and cheques, regardless of which bank you are actually with.

"And that is what I will be speaking to Lloyds about.”

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