Support for Wick RBS demo

The union’s Caithness branch secretary John Deighan said: "There were a lot of people waving at us and honking their horns as they drove past. “They've been stopping by and asking us if we have a petition and we’re directing them to where they can get more information online.”

He believes that the imminent closure of the Wick branch is a bad sign for many of the existing banks – especially the rural branches.

The placards the three union representatives carried called the RBS the “disloyal bank of Scotland” – alluding to their belief that the “publicly bailed out bank is putting profits before people” and has “no real interest” in the needs of the community.

Mrs Ross said: "We've have been successful in getting a reprieve for the Tongue branch but the Wick branch is still under threat,” said Mrs Ross. “It’s essential we do everything we can to save it. Local branches are the lifeblood of communities like this.

“It’s also the only bank in town with disabled access and this cannot be overlooked."

The day of action coincided with the bank declaring £750m after-tax profits in its 2017 annual return.

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