Labour MSP Rhoda Grant mentions that many staff will also lose their job, and can not relocate due to the distance to another branch.

She adds that they will struggle to get another job as these positions in rural areas "are few and far between".

Labour MSP Claire Baker says: "There is an assumption that people who use online banking no longer need a branch to visit.

"This is not true", noting people still need to deposit money.

Conservative MSP Rachael Hamilton says:"People in rural areas have been forgotten."

She notes that people often retire to towns in order to access local services easily.

SNP MSP Mairi Gougeon says she is "angry" at closures.

Ms Gougeon says the closures will put "even more pressure on our post offices".

Green MSP Mark Ruskell accuses RBS of "abandoning communities".

Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard calls on Philip Hammond to "veto the closures across Scotland."

He says: "If we own RBS, we the people ought to control RBS."

SNP MSP Richard Lyle says he "questions your figures" in response to RBS's claims that closures are due to falling footfall.

Conservative MSP Edward Mountain says the closures have been met with "justified anger".

He says: "Customers and business needs the reassurance of a local branch."

"It is clear not enough thought has been put into this decision."

Image source, PA

An SNP MP has urged the prime minister to tell the head of the Royal Bank of Scotland that its recent decision to close branches is unacceptable.

The bank announced earlier this month that it plans to shut a further 62 branches across Scotland

Ian Blackford, the SNP's Westminster leader, told Theresa May that RBS was "turning their backs" on communities.

And he called on her to tell RBS chief executive Ross McEwan that the closures must be reversed.

Mrs May responded by saying that branch closures were a commercial decision and that alternative services were in place for vulnerable customers.

• RBS to close more than a third of branches
• Read more here

Image source, bbc

Ms Forbes says: "There is no doubt that branch staff are doing everything they can to advise and support customers about alternatives – depositing and withdrawing cash at the Post Office, visiting the mobile branch or accessing the nearest ATM.

"I was absolutely amazed by the dedication and care of RBS staff in Kyle, Beauly and Aviemore and their managers whose sole focus at the moment are the customers who they have known for years – they didn’t make these decisions, but they’re the ones who take the flack and see the customers who are anxious and worried.

"And for those customers who are concerned, and I close on this, I recommend you pop into your branch and speak to a member of staff.

Presiding officer, I call on RBS to reconsider their decision to close these branches for the sake of the people of Kyle, Mallaig, Beauly and Aviemore."

Image source, Getty Images

RBS is closing 259 branches - one in four of its outlets - and cutting 680 jobs as more customers bank online.

The closures involve 62 Royal Bank of Scotland and 197 NatWest branches.

RBS, which is 71%-owned by the taxpayer, said it would try to ensure compulsory redundancies were "kept to an absolute minimum".

The bank said use of its branches by customers had fallen 40% since 2014, but the Unite union, which represents bank staff, called the cuts "savage".

Following the closures, the RBS group will be left with 744 branches.

Read more here

Ms Forbes tells the chamber: "But RBS are not the only on, and no doubt other speakers today will talk about closures by Bank of Scotland and Clydesdale and others."

She continues: "It’s the most fragile and vulnerable customers who will suffer most."

Ms Forbes adds: "Because whilst, yes, many people are choosing to bank online or to bank on their phone app, not everybody is, not everybody can, and not everybody will.

"Its the older and vulnerable customers who do not have access to the internet and still visit the local branch on weekly basis, because they trust the staff and they struggle to access services in other ways.

"It’s the cash-based businesses operating in largely cash-based economies, like tourism."

SNP MSP Kate Forbes says that people across Scotland feel "powerless".

She says: "The recent announcement by RBS to close 62 branches in Scotland is just the latest, but certainly the most ruthless – meaning that there will be only 89 RBS branches open in Scotland – compared to around 300 in April 2013.

"I believe they should reverse that decision, not least because in 2008, we collectively bailed out the Royal Bank of Scotland at a cost of £45 billion and we, the taxpayers, are still the majority shareholder."

That is the end of first minister's questions, but don't go away as there is plenty to come this afternoon.

First up is a member's debate led by SNP MSP Kate Forbes on the planned Royal Bank of Scotland closures.

Image source, Getty Images

Then from 1.30pm our coverage begins ahead of the draft budget, which Finance Secretary Derek Mackay will announce at 2pm.

Don't miss it!

Image source, bbc

Ms Sturgeon says Police Scotland has launched its anti-domestic abuse campaign to run over Christmas.

Ms Ballantyne says there has been a 40% increase of domestic abuse in the Scottish Borders since 2008.

She says abolishing prison sentences of less than a year is an appalling way to treat domestic abuse victims.

Ms Sturgeon says: "No I don't agree with that because I don't agree with the premise that question was based on."

She says we should welcome the increased confidence in victims to come forward.

The first minister says the government is creating a presumption against short sentences.