The closure comes as more of us are choosing to bank online.
Major banking giants have made sweeping closures in 2026(Image: Getty Images)
The rise of online banking has vastly changed how we get our money. With digital transactions become more and more popular, many banks have had to make several closures.
One of them has been the Bank of Scotland, with the Edinburgh-based firm shuttering several sites. Over the past few months, numerous towns across the country have lost their walk-in branch.
Among that ever-growing list is now Grangemouth. Based on information on the bank’s website, the branch located on 24 La Porte Precinct will officially close its doors for the final time today (Thursday, October 8.)
Customers will have received direct contact from the Bank of Scotland notifying them of the closure. This includes sending a letter to those who regularly visited the branch, alongside providing updates through posters and face-to-face contact in the branch itself.
The firm is also said to have contacted a range of local community members to update them on the closure. This has included the in-store banking team and senior management, local Citizens Advice Bureau and local Chamber of Commerce.
Brian Leishman, the local MP for Alloa and Grangemouth has also been contacted about the closure after he questioned the banking firm on why the branch was closing down. He also queried where a new banking hub would be located and what other services would be available.
Customers who expressed concerns and disappointment at losing their local walk-in branch have been reassured on other ways they can continue to access their account. One of the main ways will be through the nearest Banking Hub, located on 68 South Street, Bo’Ness.
A new Banking Hub with an ATM for the local area is also on the horizon following a review of cash access by the financial conduct authority LINK. It is currently unclear when the second hub will open.
For those who prefer to visit a branch in-person. As the Bank of Scotland is part of the Lloyds Banking Group, customers can also visit any Lloyds or Halifax branch where they will receive all the same services as before.
The closure of the Grangemouth branch marks the end of the Scottish banking giant’s sweeping closures this year. The move has saw 28 branches disappear from the Scottish high street, with 12 closing in October alone.
Like many other retailers on the high street, the Bank of Scotland has been faced with a change in consumer habits, with many customers now choosing to use the online app for all of their banking app.
This includes in the Grangemouth area, with documents for the local branch reading: “Before we close any branch, we look at how customers are doing their banking. Most customers prefer to use our mobile app, online banking or call us.
“Because of this, we’ll be closing our Grangemouth branch. We’ll explain more about how we made our decision on the following pages.”
The switch to online banking has also led to Halifax closing down 26 branches this month. It comes on the heels of news that the banking group would be getting phased out after 173 years on the high street.
In July, it was announced that the Halifax name would be rebranded to parent company the Lloyds Banking Group. Existing customers have been told that all accounts will remain unchanged following the switch.
Santander also closed several branches following the rise of digital transactions, with the Spanish business announcing that 44 branches nationwide would disappear by the end of 2026.
