DUNBAR will be left without a bank within the next 12 months after Bank of Scotland confirmed it would close its High Street branch.

The banking giant has already conducted “an in-depth review” and plans to shut the branch on May 21 next year.

The decision has been blasted by the county’s MSP and comes just months after it was confirmed Tranent would also be left without a bank.

Figures provided by Bank of Scotland show that the number of Dunbar branch transactions in January had dropped by 38 per cent for personal customers and 32 per cent for business customers compared to 2018 levels.

READ MORE: Tranent: RBS closure raises concerns over future of High Street

The closure means that the nearest Bank of Scotland branches for customers would be in Haddington and North Berwick.

Paul McLennan, East Lothian MSP, lives in the town and has already lined up a meeting with representatives from the bank. He worked for Bank of Scotland for 20 years, until 2010, including in branches in Edinburgh.

He said: “My thoughts go out to the staff of the branch, and the customers who are faced with uncertainty now.

“I am meeting with Bank of Scotland tomorrow (Friday) morning to discuss this matter, and continuity of service for customers, but once again communities are only being informed after the decision has already been made, with no opportunity for consultation.

“East Lothian’s local banking facilities are being gutted.

READ MORE: Tranent: Royal Bank of Scotland confirms plan to close branch

“As personal finances are stretched, and as local business continues to recover from the pandemic, the loss of face to face banking is rightly a cause for dismay.

“It is now time to progress conversations about setting up banking hubs in East Lothian’s towns.

“I had asked to speak with all banks active in East Lothian to consider the future of banking in the area.

“This was already a priority, and today’s announcement underlines that. It is not good enough, and I will do all I can to address this.”

It is the latest bank closure in the county over the last decade, with Tranent's Royal Bank of Scotland branch to be added to the list next month.

  • RBS East Linton - June 25, 2014
  • RBS Longniddry - June 25, 2014
  • Clydesdale Bank Haddington – July 24, 2014
  • RBS Prestonpans - August 9, 2016
  • TSB Tranent - June 17, 2017
  • Bank of Scotland Gullane - October 18, 2017
  • RBS Dunbar - 2018
  • RBS North Berwick – 2018
  • TSB Dunbar – May 6, 2020
  • TSB North Berwick – Jan 2021
  • Virgin Money Musselburgh - 2022