RBS did not consult with communities in rural Scotland before deciding to close 62 of its branches.

The details emerged in a parliamentary hearing to discuss the closures, which MPs also debated this week.

Argyll MP Brendan O’Hara, who called the debate, said: “RBS has completely abandoned its social responsibility to rural Scotland.

“Without consultation, the 73%-state-owned RBS decided that should people in Campbeltown wish to bank with them, they must endure a 175-mile round trip to Oban or face a boat and bus journey to Brodick on Arran, while customers on Bute will be expected to take a ferry to Wemyss Bay and drive to Largs.”

Emma Cooper of Scottish Rural Network who gave evidence to Westminster’s Scottish Affairs Committee on the issue said: “It is clear RBS has a really poor understanding of life in rural communities. They really don’t care.”

When asked by committee chair Pete Wishart MP about whether the bank consulted communities and government on the decision to close the branches, Les Matheson of RBS told MPs: “We have made a commercial decision based on customer behaviour. We did not consult. We informed the Government about the changes that we were making. We did not go to anybody for approval.”