Royal Bank of Scotland staff from Largs host reunion

As covered in last week’s News, the planned closure of the local branch of the Royal Bank has been deferred for now.

Nonetheless, as the former employees had previously planned, a small group of former branch staff met up in the town to say farewell to their old workplace.

The staff who met up were Myra Smith, Jean Rutherford, Neil McKinlay, Kit Hood and Sue Holgate.

Familiar faces: Royal Bank of Scotland reunion in Largs (Image: Newsquest) Neil McKinlay, pictured centre, travelled through from South Queensferry to meet up with his former colleagues, some of whom he had not seen for nearly 50 years.

Neil recalled how busy a branch it was back in the early to mid-70 when he worked there.

He said: ” We had about 24 staff, the current staff numbers are now two or three on a busy day.

"We had queues regularly stretching out of the door especially during the summer holiday season.

"The culture was very different too with no pressure to sell financial related products to customers and being a small provincial Scottish bank at the time it felt more like a family firm we were working for.

Royal Bank of Scotland premises in Largs in the 1980s (Image: RBS)

"We also had a lot of laughs as we went about our business and it felt like our customers were our friends too, and boy were there some characters like local businessmen Willie Murdoch and Willie Darroch.

Neil added: “I fully understand the need for change and of course the advent of mobile banking and payment by phones/plastic has significantly reduced the need for many to visit branches but there still are a sizable number of folks who need bank branches to deposit cash and others who are not comfortable with modern banking methods and they need to be catered for too through combined 'hub' bank units or other means.

"We had a great wee reunion and the years just melted away and we raised a glass to all our past colleagues and the current staff who still go a great job and we agreed not to leave it another 50 year to meet up again."

RBS staff at the Queen's Hotel in Largs around 1975 (Image: Royal Bank of Scotland)    The National Bank of Scotland opened a branch in Largs on December 8, 1931 but closed only two years later. It was decided to reopen the branch in Largs under the joint agency of David Harper and Harold James and a site at 66 Main Street was purchased and duly renovated.

In 1936-37, premises were purchased at 26/28 Main Street to act as the new branch office, and internal installations and a night safe were added in 1946.

There was a Hunterston branch opened as a sub office to Largs as part of a mobile service in 1958 in Fairlie. 

Royal Bank had family atmosphere in Largs (Image: RBS)

In 1959, National Bank of Scotland merged with Commercial Bank of Scotland to form the National Commercial Bank of Scotland. Commercial Bank of Scotland had opened a branch in Largs at the Pierhead in September 1936.

New premises were purchased at 35/37 Main Street, the site formerly owned by Mackay and Sons tearooms.

The National Commercial Bank of Scotland merged with the Royal Bank of Scotland to form The Royal Bank of Scotland Ltd. The Royal Bank had opened a branch in 1857, situated at 22 Bath Street. In 1954, they had moved to new premises at 13 Main Street. A sub office had also been established in Fairlie in 1894.

First ever ATM cashline in Largs (Image: Newsquest) It was in 1980 that the first cashline machine was installed at the Royal Bank, and the Largs and Millport News was there to capture the historic moment.

In 1992, an internal refurbishment was carried out to become the Royal Bank office which we are familiar with today.

The Royal Bank of Scotland branch in the town's Main Street was due to close on October 3 despite public opposition.

Now the bank, owned by NatWest, has had to pause plans with new Financial Conduct Authority rules guaranteeing access to cash in local communities.