Stories

Sun, 21 Jun 2026

Sun, 21 Jun 2026 'I couldn't sleep when I heard the last bank would close'

When 84-year-old Maggie Dodd discovered that the last remaining bank in Lochgilphead was closing, she began to panic.

* Maggie Dodd, an 84-year-old customer of Bank of Scotland in Lochgilphead, was distraught when she heard that her bank was closing.
* She and her friend Ina Callander have "buddied up" to help each other with banking at the local post office.
* Lloyds Banking Group claims the branch is no longer viable as most customers prefer online banking.
* However, residents are worried about the impact on elderly and vulnerable people, as well as local businesses.
* Karen McCurry set up a buddy scheme to help people feel more confident about using post offices for banking.
* Adriano Pia, who runs a cafe in Lochgilphead, says banks are needed because bank cards and cash machines can be unreliable.
* Scott McBride, manager of the Community Shop, is worried about the impact on their charity's insurance if they cannot deposit takings at the bank every day.
* Since 2015, 742 bank branches have closed in Scotland, with 25 closing in Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber.
* A bid for a Banking Hub in Lochgilphead was rejected by Link, but Dougie Philand hopes they will reconsider their decision on cash machines.
* Lloyds Banking Group claims that customers can use post offices to manage their money, alongside the app or over the phone.