THE TSB bank is to close a further 70 branches across the UK next year - but its facility in Clydebank has been spared the axe.

The bank announced a fresh round of closures on Tuesday, blaming the rising number of customers switching to online banking.

The Clyde Shopping Centre branch will remain opened as plans are revealed to close scores of branches across the UK as customers switch to online banking.

TSB says the move will result in around 150 fewer roles with the company, but that all staff who work at the closing branches will be offered alternative roles at the bank.

The Scottish branches earmarked for closure in the latest list are in Ellon, Forfar, Forres, Fort William, Kirkintilloch, Lanark, Stranraer and Thurso.

It is two years since TSB set out a plan to scale back its branch network but the shift to digital banking has accelerated during the pandemic as customers have been stuck at home.

Nine in 10 transactions are now done online, and 90 per cent of mortgage appointments are video calls, TSB said.

There is “no prospect of branch transactions returning to pre-Covid levels”, the bank said.

There is a Post Office or a free-to-use cash point within a mile of every branch that is set to close.

The bank said that 90 per cent of its customers will still be within 20 minutes of a branch.

TSB also promised extra support for vulnerable customers who will be hit by the closures.

The business said that it would have 220 branches left at the end of June 2022, compared to 290 today.

It will still have the country’s seventh largest branch network.

It comes after Carol Monaghan MP said, earlier this year, she was “disappointed” that TSB Bank was continuing with their plans to shutter the branches in Drumchapel and Anniesland .

Ms Monaghan said she was particularly worried for TSB customers in Drumchapel as the closure means that their closest bank will be in Clydebank. And their high rate of digital exclusion means that many constituents will not have access to online services.

In May the Clydebank branch of the TSB opened up a "safe space" where domestic abuse survivors can get specialist support.

The Clyde Shopping Centre branch is one of almost 300 TSB facilities across the UK which will offer the service.

TSB said the initiative will enable more people to find help on their local high street, particularly as lockdown restrictions ease across the UK.

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