HELENSBURGH'S branch of Santander shut for the last time on Thursday as protests over its future fell on deaf ears.

The closure of the branch, on the corner of Sinclair Street and West Princes Street, was announced earlier this year.

The decision by the Spanish-owned company to close 140 branches in towns across the UK, putting 1,200 jobs under threat, was made public in January.

READ MORE: Anger as Santander announces Helensburgh branch closure

Seven people were employed at the bank's Helensburgh branch, though after announcing the closure the company insisted it would "work hard" to redeploy staff based in the town.

And despite a petition which gathered hundreds of signatures on the streets of Helensburgh in just a few hours, and lobbying from MSPs Jackie Baillie, Maurice Corry and Ross Greer and from MP Brendan O'Hara, the company is pressing ahead with the closure of the Helensburgh branch – its last in Argyll and Bute.

The banking scene in Helensburgh has since been dealt a further blow by the TSB's decision to reduce opening hours at its branch in the town's East Princes Street from five days a week to two – a move which will take effect in late July.

READ MORE: Santander urged to rethink Helensburgh closure plan

On the Santander branch closure, Ms Baillie said this week: "I have spoken out against the branch closure and written to them on a number of occasions but to no avail."

The closure of the Helensburgh branch leaves local Santander customers facing a near 50-mile round trip to the next nearest branches, on Byres Road in Hillhead and Argyle Street in Glasgow city centre, though when the closure was announced, Santander said its customers would be able to carry out counter transactions at their local post office.

READ MORE: TSB to slash opening hours at its Helensburgh branch

The closure decision was made after what Santander described as an “extensive consideration and a comprehensive internal review”, sparked by "dramatic changes" in the way its customers do their banking.