Thurso TSB customers seeking to withdraw large sums will face 'absolutely ridiculous' dilemma
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TSB customers seeking to withdraw large sums of money will be faced with an "absolutely ridiculous" dilemma if the bank goes ahead with its closure plan for Thurso, it has been claimed.
Withdrawal limits at cash machines and post offices mean that a person wishing to take £5000 from their own account would either have to arrange a 200-mile-plus round trip to Inverness or make 10 journeys in as many days to an ATM or post office counter.
The predicament was brought to the attention of Highland councillor Matthew Reiss by a member of the public in the town. While she did not wish to be identified, the woman was keen to highlight how her mother-in-law – who is in her seventies and lives in a village several miles from Wick – will be inconvenienced if and when TSB shuts its last remaining branch in the county.
The bank pulled out of Wick in March last year.
The woman emailed Councillor Reiss, who represents Thurso and Northwest Caithness on Highland Council, as he has repeatedly urged TSB to reconsider its decision to close the Traill Street premises in April as part of plans to axe 70 branches across the UK.
"My mother-in-law is a TSB customer and was concerned about how to withdraw a large sum of cash should she want to," the woman explained. "Normally this would be done in a branch.
"I contacted TSB for further information on how this would be possible and they have advised that the withdrawal limit at an ATM or post office is £500 per day. So should she wish to withdraw £5000, the choices are: she has to travel 120 miles to Inverness to the nearest branch or this would take 10 days and 10 trips to an ATM or post office counter, withdrawing £500 per day.
"This would mean, at the age of 71, 10 return trips to Wick over 10 days to access £5000 of her own money. It is absolutely ridiculous."
The woman added: "I hope you are successful in getting this decision overturned as the bank means so much to so many elderly and vulnerable people."
With the woman's permission, Councillor Reiss is to pass on her comments to TSB managers in Edinburgh.
He said: "It raises a new perspective on the morality of this closure – and, no doubt, others."
Earlier this week, Councillor Reiss again called on TSB to think again over the Thurso branch closure.
He reiterated his concerns about the distances covered by customers who wish to do their banking in person, and said a change of heart would be "an example of a large organisation actually having a listening ear and receptive social conscience".
He has made it clear he would be happy to attend a meeting in Edinburgh to discuss the matter.
TSB says there has been declining branch use and increasing numbers of customers switching to digital banking. The bank will provide a "pop-up" service in Thurso one day a week.
