MUSSELBURGH’S MSP has expressed disappointment after Virgin Money would not make a u-turn on its decision to shut its local branch.

Colin Beattie met the firm to discuss the High Street outlet’s proposed closure.

Last month, Virgin Money announced plans to close 31 stores with the loss of 112 jobs as it “adapts to changing customer demands”.

Bosses said the move came as more customers switched to online banking during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The decision to close a store was based on a number of factors, including location, usage, proximity to alternative stores and lease arrangements. Each store was assessed on an individual basis, with “careful consideration” on the impact on the local area, as well as the needs of vulnerable customers and the accessibility of alternative services such as free-to-use ATMs and Post Offices.

The nearest Post Office is 404ft away from the Musselburgh branch, the company said.

The stores will close in early 2022.

Mr Beattie said the nearest branch would be Virgin Money Edinburgh on George Street.

He repeated his anger at the decision, saying: “I am furious with Virgin Money’s decision to close the Musselburgh branch.”

He said: “No thought has been given by Virgin Money on the pressure this will put on Post Offices locally and I am concerned about this being the only alternative.

“Across my constituency, I am not only seeing bank branch closures but also the closure of Post Offices. This leaves my constituents in a very isolated and disadvantaged position should both their local bank branch and Post Office branch close.

“If banks no longer want to serve our local communities then who exactly do they serve?

“The removal of their services further impacts the economic development of our high streets, where people go for convenience that will no longer be offered.

“This continuous pattern of banks deserting local communities is one which must be tackled sooner rather than later.”

A spokesperson for Virgin Money said: “We regularly review the ways customers use our stores so that we can adapt our services to meet changing customer demand.

“The number of customers using bank branches for day-to-day transactions has been on a downward trajectory across the UK banking industry for a number of years and this has been further accelerated by the pandemic.”