RBS have been blasted after announcing "savage" branch closures in Stirling this morning.

Sites in Bannockburn, Bridge of Allan and Dunblane will all shut as of May and June next year.

The bank has cited the fact that customers are switching to online banking as one of the main reasons for the move.

However, politicians and unions have led a stern castigation of the plan, highlighting that it was members of the public who helped rebuild RBS in recent years.

A spokesperson for Unite said: "The news today by RBS is totally shocking and represents a change in how the banking sector conducts its affairs.

"The sheer scale of this latest round of branch closures is savage. How can a UK taxpayer backed organisation devastate local communities by disenfranchising them of the ability to bank at their local branch?

"Once again loyal staff, that have helped to rebuild RBS over the last decade, will be rewarded with the prospect of an uncertain future and a bleak Christmas."

An RBS spokesperson said: "More and more of our customers are choosing to do their everyday banking online or on mobile.

"Since 2014 the number of customers using our branches across the UK has fallen by 40 per cent and mobile transactions have increased by 73 per cent over the same period.

"Over five million customers now use our mobile banking app and one in five only bank with us digitally.

"We realise this is difficult news for our colleagues and we are doing everything we can to support those affected."

The Bannockburn branch has a closing date of May 15, with Dunblane set to shut its doors on May 20.

Meanwhile, the branch in Bridge of Allan will cease operations on June 11.

Indeed, for Bridge of Allan, the RBS announcement was a double blow as Lloyds-Bank of Scotland announce it was pulling out of the town earlier this week.