After 67 years, the Scotiabank branch at the corner of Douglas Street and Hillside Avenue will close in June.
The branch, which opened in the Scott building in 1950, is shutting down the branch and moving accounts and staff to the Scotiabank branch inside Hillside Shopping Centre.
The bank said changing customer needs and banking preferences were behind the move that will affect 21 employees.
“Customers have a greater demand for convenience, and are increasingly choosing to do their banking online and mobile. Currently, over 80 per cent of all transactions in Canada now take place outside the branch,” said Scotiabank spokeswoman Kate Simandl.
“Like any business, we regularly review our branch network, the number of customers that we serve in the market area, and the way that those customers are doing their banking. After careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to consolidate two branches in the area.”
Employees were told of the decision Jan. 12, while customers started getting letters explaining the decision last week.
“We do not make these decisions lightly. While this process involves closing one branch, our steadfast commitment to providing our customers with the highest-quality advice and service remains unchanged,” said Simandl.
The bank said staffing plans for the Hillside branch have not yet been finalized. “We hope that most of the staff from the Douglas and Hillside branch will move to the branch in Hillside Shopping Centre,” she said.
