Plans by state owned banks RBS and Lloyds to restrict the use of cash machines by people on low incomes and in rural areas have been condemned Moray SNP MP Angus Robertson.

According to reports this week Lloyds TSB, NatWest and Royal Bank of Scotland basic bank account customers, who are often on low incomes, are to be banned from using any cash machine not belonging to their own bank.

Current account holders who pay fees every month will still be allowed to use any machine.

Commenting on the issue Angus Robertson MP said:

“ This move by the Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds causes the most problems for the least well off.

“ We have a situation where those with the least will have greatest difficulty accessing their money, that is simply discriminatory.

“ We have seen the same happen with energy tariffs where those who can least afford it have to pay the highest energy prices and now the banks are taking actions that have the greatest impact on the same group.

“ This policy will make life more complicated for customers on low incomes who tend to use cash machines more and could force them to spend more to get access to their own cash.

“ The bottom line is this - the banks messed up, the public suffered, the banks got bailed out, the banks hit the least well off again. It is simply not on.”

Plans by state owned banks RBS and Lloyds to restrict the use of cash machines by people on low incomes and in rural areas have been condemned Moray SNP MP Angus Robertson.

According to reports this week Lloyds TSB, NatWest and Royal Bank of Scotland basic bank account customers, who are often on low incomes, are to be banned from using any cash machine not belonging to their own bank.

Current account holders who pay fees every month will still be allowed to use any machine.

Commenting on the issue Angus Robertson MP said:

“ This move by the Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds causes the most problems for the least well off.

“ We have a situation where those with the least will have greatest difficulty accessing their money, that is simply discriminatory.

“ We have seen the same happen with energy tariffs where those who can least afford it have to pay the highest energy prices and now the banks are taking actions that have the greatest impact on the same group.

“ This policy will make life more complicated for customers on low incomes who tend to use cash machines more and could force them to spend more to get access to their own cash.

“ The bottom line is this - the banks messed up, the public suffered, the banks got bailed out, the banks hit the least well off again. It is simply not on.”