Residents in Whitewater Region are still fighting to save the Scotiabank in Beachburg. A demonstration on Parliament Hill is being planned for some time in May. Account holders have been informed the branch plans to close in June with customer accounts automatically moved to the location in Cobden.
Chair of the Save Our Scotiabank Committee, Joey Trimm, says residents in the Greenwood/Lacroix Bay area would have to travel 40 kilometers each way to get to Cobden with no taxi’s or public transportation available. A town hall meeting was held near the end of January with bank representatives. Scotiabank District Vice President for Ottawa West, Mike Brydges told those in attendance the decision to close the bank has already been finalized.
Trimm says this was an insult to those who were expecting fair dialogue. He adds Scotiabank has breached their own bank procedures by not obtaining customer consent to transfer accounts and making false claims that the Beachburg Bank will move to Cobden when in fact it will close. Other unacceptable bank procedures he pointed out include the short notice for the meeting, refusal to briefly postpone, the meeting was called during a severe weather event and the venue was too small with between 200 and 300 people attending and half forced to stand.
Whitewater Region Mayor, Michael Moore, says the bank is crucial to the future of the community and adds they’re asking the federal government to review how bank closures are impacting rural communities. Council passed a resolution asking for a federal parliamentary review earlier this year.
The Save Our Scotiabank Committee is planning a demonstration on Parliament Hill for early May and is hoping for participation from other impacted rural committees.
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https://www.pembroketoday.ca/2020/01/28/beachburg-scotiabank-still-set-to-close-despite-community-efforts/
