Closure of Bank of Scotland, Byres Road

That this House notes with concern the announcement by Lloyds Banking Group to close the Bank of Scotland branch on Byres Road in the West End of Glasgow; further notes that the branch has been a long-standing and much-valued presence on the street, and that its closure represents a further significant reduction in the availability of branch-based banking services to the local community, following the closure of other major retail bank branches in recent years; expresses concern about the impact of the closure especially on older, more vulnerable or less computer-literate customers who may have to travel further at greater expense to access alternative provision; and calls on Lloyds Banking Group and the Bank of Scotland, if not willing to reconsider this decision, to ensure that affected customers are fully consulted, engaged and supported in order to be able to use banking services that meet their needs in the future.