With Grand Manan's only bank set to close, residents of the N.B. island are fighting to keep it open
Residents on the New Brunswick island of Grand Manan are rallying to keep their village’s only bank open.
The Bank of Nova Scotia, or Scotiabank, notified customers of its plans to leave Grand Manan in January. The closure of the bank branch, along with its automated banking machine, is scheduled for Aug. 24.
Residents say they have many questions about why the bank is leaving Grand Manan after operating on the island for well over a century.
Scotiabank held a virtual meeting with island customers earlier this year.
“It was really a time to encourage all of us to go electronic banking,” says resident Gregg Russell.
Several residents felt their specific questions and concerns weren’t answered at the meeting.
“It almost seemed scripted,” says resident Selena Leonard. “He just kept repeating the same answer every time a question was asked.”
Scotiabank wouldn’t agree to an interview request from CTV News.
In a written statement, Scotiabank says, “We did not make this decision lightly and we understand that this will have an impact on the people and community of Grand Manan.”
Scotiabank’s written statement also says it regularly reviews customer numbers in market areas along with the ways customers are doing banking. Scotiabank wouldn’t share those specific details for Grand Manan.
CONCERNS FROM CONVENIENCE TO PUBLIC SAFETY
Scotiabank says customer accounts from the Grand Manan branch will be transferred to its branch in St. George, N.B.
Grand Manan’s only regular connection to the mainland is a one-and-a-half hour ferry trip each way. The St. George branch is about 20 kilometres from the ferry’s landing in Blacks Harbour, N.B.
Island resident Charlotte Frost says if she took the island’s first morning ferry to do banking on the mainland, the earliest she’d be able to return to Grand Manan is late that afternoon.
“It’s not as simple as they make it out to be,” she says.
Other residents say the cost of leaving the island to do banking, including the ferry fee and rising gas prices, will cause hardship.
“It’s going to cost me 60 dollars to get 40 in cash from the bank,” says Russell. “It doesn’t make a lot of sense.”
Another worry is the potential for island residents and businesses to have large quantities of cash on hand.
“You won’t be travelling two or three days a week to go to the mainland to do your banking,” says Leonard, who also owns two eateries on the island. “I’m fearful too of more temptations for break-ins because people are going to know that you can’t take it to the bank. So you’re going to have to keep it somewhere.”
HOPES FOR A DECISION REVERSAL
In its written statement, Scotiabank says it’s focused on helping customers make the transition to online and telephone banking.
Scotiabank wouldn’t share how many employees are affected by the branch’s closure in Grand Manan, nor what their future with the company would be.
Grand Manan residents are still holding out hope for Scotiabank to change its mind.
On a recent trip to Toronto, Russell held a one-man protest outside Scotiabank’s corporate offices.
“I spent two hours talking to many, many people who could not believe what was happening,” says Russell, who tried unsuccessfully to schedule a meeting with corporate officials.
“I said, it’s funny, when you want my money everyone will talk to me. When I have a complaint, nobody will talk to me.”
A protest at Scotiabank’s Grand Manan branch is scheduled for Friday. Russell says more protests are being organized both on and off the island.
BANK BRANCH CLOSURES A GROWING TREND
Grand Manan’s bank closure may present unique challenges, but it’s also part of a growing trend.
According to the Canadian Bankers Association, the number of bank branches across the Maritime region has been gone down in recent years. Between 2016 and 2020, New Brunswick lost 10 bank branches (from 152 to 142). Nova Scotia recorded a decline of seven bank branches (from 192 to 185), while Prince Edward Island lost two (from 27 to 25).
The only banks in Chipman, N.B., and Hartland, N.B., left those communities in that time.
In all, a total of 407 bank branches have disappeared across Canada between 2016 and 2020 -- from 6,190 bank branches down to 5,783, according to the Canadian Bankers Association.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Asking rent prices up 9.3% across Canada, Ontario sees only decline: report
A new report says the average asking rent for a home in Canada in April was up 9.3 per cent compared with a year ago, while a slight month-over-month increase was also recorded for the first time since January.
What is basic income, and how would it impact me?
Parliamentarians are considering a pair of bills aiming to lift people out of poverty through a basic income program, but some fear these types of systems could result in more taxes for Canadians who are already financially struggling.
'I may have some nightmares:' Man survives being bitten by 2 sharks in Bahamas
A man who was bitten by two sharks in the Bahamas said Thursday he's 'thankful that I'm here' while sharing his story of survival.
Magnitude 4.2 earthquake reported off Vancouver Island's west coast
A 4.2-magnitude earthquake was recorded west of Vancouver Island early Friday morning.
Mexico's president accuses press and volunteer searchers for missing people of 'necrophilia'
The administration of Mexico's president has accused the press and volunteer searchers who look for the bodies of missing people of 'necrophilia,' comments that drew criticism this week.
WATCH Expecting an interest rate cut in June? Don't bet on it after new jobs data
Canada's labour market rebounded in April, adding more than 90,000 jobs, a staggering number of new positions after four consecutive months of little change.
Out-of-control wildfire burning near Fort McMurray
As of 9 a.m. on Friday, the wildfire burning 28 kilometres southwest of the northeastern Alberta city was 25 hectares in size.
Prince William says wife Kate is 'doing well'
Prince William said on Friday his wife Kate was 'doing well' in a rare public comment about the Princess of Wales as she undergoes preventative chemotherapy for cancer.
'Irate male' assaulted Newfoundland officers with block of cheese, police say
Police in Newfoundland say patrol officers were assaulted Thursday by a "very irate male" wielding a block of cheese.