Mike Collier: Clackmannanshire's Banking Desert Is a Crisis the SNP Must Address

Mike Collier, Reform UK's candidate for Clackmannanshire and Dunblane, has called for urgent action on banking access following the reduction of financial services in Scotland's smallest county to a single bank and one building society — both located in Alloa town centre. The situation has been described as critical by local residents and businesses, with Clackmannanshire's single free-to-use cash machine and limited banking presence leaving residents in smaller communities without convenient access to essential financial services. 'This is not a minor inconvenience — it is a real financial exclusion crisis,' said Mr Collier. 'For older residents who are not online, for small businesses that need to deposit cash, for anyone who relies on face-to-face banking services, Clackmannanshire's banking desert is a serious problem.' Mr Collier noted that a previous application for a banking hub in Alloa was rejected on the grounds that the area was 'adequately served' — a decision he called absurd given the area's deprivation levels and poor public transport. He has called for a new assessment by Cash Access UK and for the Scottish Government to pressure banking institutions to maintain essential services in communities like Alloa. 'Reform UK will fight for fair banking access for every community in Scotland, not just the prosperous ones.'