HELENSBURGH and Lomond MSP Jackie Baillie has raised the issue of Santander's Helensburgh branch closure in the Scottish Parliament.

The bank announced last month that the West Princes Street outlet will be one of 140 shutdowns throughout the UK when it closes its doors in April, to the dismay of customers and local politicians alike.

READ MORE: Anger as Santander announces closure of Helensburgh branch.

During general questions at Holyrood on Thursday, February 7, Ms Baillie pressed Kate Forbes, minister for public finance and digital economy, to seek a meeting with Santander officials to encourage them to reconsider the extent of their closures.

Ms Baillie said: “The Santander branch in Helensburgh is the latest victim in the epidemic that is Scottish bank branch closures.

"The fact that Santander deemed it satisfactory to close down their Helensburgh branch without consulting key stakeholders and long standing members is completely unacceptable.

READ MORE: Santander urged to reconsider Helensburgh branch closure plan.

"My constituents, many of whom are elderly and have problems with mobility and transport, are now going to have to travel more than a 40 mile round trip just to speak to a Santander representative face to face.

"I called on the Scottish Government to meet with Santander to specifically discuss concerns relating to the closure of Santander bank branches given the disruption that it will cause, both in my constituency and across the country.”