NORTH Berwick’s TSB branch is to close.

The branch is one of 73 to shut in Scotland as part of a UK wide “reshaping” by TSB.

Across the UK 164 branches are going to close, with 900 jobs expected to be lost.

North Berwick TSB will close on January 19 next year. TSB closed its Dunbar branch in May.

This means that for those who use TSB, Haddington will be their closest branch, a 21 minute car ride away.

TSB chief executive Debbie Crosbie said: "Closing any of our branches is never an easy decision, but our customers are banking differently - with a marked shift to digital banking.

"We are reshaping our business to transform the customer experience and set us up for the future.

"This means having the right balance between branches on the high street and our digital platforms, enabling us to offer the very best experience for our personal and business customers across the UK."

The closure has been called an “unwelcome banking blow” by East Lothian MSP Iain Gray.

Mr Gray said: “This is yet another unwelcome banking blow for customers in East Lothian.

“Several branches have already closed across the county over recent years and this has had a significantly negative impact on the local communities affected.

“While North Berwick does at least have other local bank branches, that will be cold comfort for local TSB customers who are facing a 10 mile trip to their nearest branch in Haddington.

“I have contacted TSB to ask them to reconsider this decision and also seek information about the implications for local jobs if the closure does go ahead.

“I understand that banking is changing as customers increasingly use digital options instead of branches. However, with the branch network continuing to shrink at a rapid pace across the country it is vital that the Scottish and UK Governments come up with alternatives in order to keep some level of banking services in communities.

“Post offices can provide some of these services, but they are also under pressure. The banking hub model has been discussed for some years now and offers potential for maintaining services in areas with no branch, but not enough is being done to promote and support this option.

“I will be asking the Scottish Government what it is doing to ensure that communities are not left without access to banking services.”