This article appears as part of the Unspun: Scottish Politics newsletter.
Sutherland will become the first county in Scotland to be bankless when the final village branch shuts down in the New Year.
Bank of Scotland bosses dealt a major blow to one of the country’s most remote communities in September by announcing the closure of their branch in Golspie on February 4.
It will be replaced by a ‘community banker’, a bank officer who will have set hours in a space within in a local public building.
Since 2015 the area has seen the loss of seven banks in Dornoch, Lairg, Helmsdale, Bonar Bridge, Tongue and Lochinver.
Wick, in Caithness, will lose its last remaining Bank of Scotland on June 25 next year, replaced by a similar, infrequently staffed 'hub'.
Not a good look for a company which boasts it has "proudly been by the side of Scottish families and communities since our foundation in 1695".
It's not just about the loss of of services for local people in areas with few alternatives, banks have always offered career opportunities for school leavers who don't want to move away.
While bigger companies are accused of putting profits before people, smaller companies are stepping up to the plate to provide local jobs and one small business is punching above its weight.
Kennedy Accountancy, which is based in Auchtertyre in Lochalsh, was named small firm of the year at the UK Accounting Excellence Awards, one of two awards it received.
The business stood out for its commitment to the local community, including creating "jobs for life" for local, young people - something banks used to provide.
Founder and director Karen Kennedy said she was particularly proud of this aspect "at a time when most young people are moving to the cities for career opportunities."
She launched the business four years ago in October 2020.
A year later in October 2021 she took on Andrew, an 18-year-old who didn't want to move away to get a career.
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He was given the opportunity to study for a 'fast-track' chartered accountant qualification and he now travels from his home in Mallaig every day via the ferry and then a 40-minute drive.
In April last year Karen took on Erica who had previously moved away to Glasgow and did an accountancy HND but realised she wanted to move back home.
Then in August this year she offered another job to Kaya, another local who left for Glasgow to study for an accountancy degree and was keen to return.
The company is aiming to take on another apprentice in 2025.
The firm's founder says she wants to send out the message that "you don’t have to leave to get a professional qualification and a rewarding career."
All the trainees get paid study time during work hours without racking up student debt and learn on the job.
"There is career progression within the firm for them too so they don’t have to move on once the qualification is complete, if they don’t want to," says the director.
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"The AAT qualification gives a route into becoming a chartered accountant without having to have a degree, so gets around not going to university.
"And you will be far more experienced at the end of four years working on the job than after four years studying the theory."
She says it would be far easier for her to take on an experienced professional that she could "just hand work to" but believes the young people in her community "are worth the investment".
Something the banks would do well to consider.
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