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Scottish Affairs committee
Select Committee
Parliament
A new set of witnesses are now giving evidence to the committee on the RBS branch closures:
Image source, HoCRBS chief executive Ross McEwan has told the Scottish Affairs Committee is that across the world customer banking has changed dramatically.
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Scottish Affairs committee
Select Committee
Parliament
Image source, HocLabour's Hugh Gaffney says he has heard that there is a lot of "pressure" put on staff to sell banking apps in RBS branches.
RBS chief executive Ross McEwan says it is part of the job for staff to have conversations with customers about how to "stay connected in this very digital world".
The bank offers much more to its customers than just banking apps, he adds.
Scottish Affairs committee
Select Committee
Parliament
Image source, HoCConservative MP Ross Thomson asks about the criteria used to select the 10 RBS branches whose closure has been put under review until the end of this year.
RBS announced in February that these branches would be kept open until the end of 2018, with their closure reviewed if there is a significant increase in transactions.
Jane Howard, from RBS's personal banking service, says the branches were selected based on whether they were the last bank in town, or more than nine miles from the nearest RBS branch.
Mr Thomson suggests that the review process should have been opened up to all branches.
Scottish Affairs committee
Select Committee
Parliament
Image source, HoCLib Dem MP Christine Jardine suggests that RBS should collaborate with other banks that have announced branch closures to create "banking hubs" in rural communities.
RBS chief executive Ross McEwan says that the Post Office is "absolutely appreciative" of banks taking customers to its stores.
He adds that with post offices in most towns and villages, the network is the best place for people to access banking services.
Scottish Affairs committee
Select Committee
Parliament
Image source, HoCAnother SNP MP, Tommy Sheppard, asks about the "commercial imperative" for the closures, adding that the total savings from the closures equates to 1% of RBS total profits.
Chief executive Ross McEwan tells him that RBS listens to all its shareholders - but he is also responsible for keeping the bank "profitable and relevant".
Scottish Affairs committee
Select Committee
Parliament
Image source, HoCConservative MP John Lamont says that RBS has "completely misunderstood" rural communities.
RBS personal banking chief executive Les Matheson tries to assure him that the bank is helping rural communities - and says the bank would be happy to talk to Mr Lamont's constituents "one on one".
Mr Lamont says people don't buy the "warm words", and that local communities who helped bail out RBS have been "let down".
Scottish Affairs committee
Select Committee
Parliament
Image source, HoCCommittee chair and SNP MP Pete Wishart criticises the proposed branch closures, and says RBS has taken a "PR pounding" on the issue.
Mr McEwan replies that "this is the best way to go forward", but says he recognises that customers in Scotland are disappointed that their local branches are closing.
He suggests people will be introduced to new ways of banking, via mobile vans or post offices.
BBC Scotland political correspondent tweets:
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Scottish Affairs committee
Select Committee
Parliament
Image source, HoCRBS chief executive Ross McEwan is appearing before Parliament's Scottish Affairs Committee to answer questions about branch closures.
He begins by making a short statement to the committee.
Mr McEwan tells MPs the decision to close branches has "not been taken lightly", but says evidence brought to light by "changing customer behaviour" is "stark".
He adds that bank branches remain a "core part" of the service offered by RBS, and assures MPs that his organisation will not look again at branch numbers in Scotland until 2020.
Image source, AFPBecause of the bank holiday recess it's a slightly later start for a Tuesday in the Commons - MPs will be in the chamber at 2.30pm, when the House of Lords also returns.
However this morning the Scottish Affairs committee will shortly hear evidence on the planned closure of RBS branches across Scotland.
RBS announced the plans to close 62 branches last December, citing changes in the way customers access banking services for a drop in branch use of around 40% in the last three years.
A partial reprieve for 10 branches was also announced. Giving evidence this morning will be: