MSP Jamie Greene has called for a Parliamentary debate after highlighting the problems for island communities without access to bank branches.

He warned Holyrood that the problem was "especially acute" for islanders on Arran and Cumbrae.

In a members' business debate tabled by Rhoda Grant MSP, Jamie Greene said there was a "powerful consensus" across all parties to safeguard physical bank branches.

"I have a similar motion in the system for debate raising the plight of bank branch closures in my own region, for example on Arran and Cumbrae," he said.

Conservative MSP Mr Greene said more needed to be done to ensure banks stick to not just their legislative and regulatory commitments, but "their social and moral obligations too to their communities."

On Arran, just one bank branch remains open for residents, whilst islanders on Cumbrae must now trek to the mainland to access banking services in person.

Mr Greene said island communities and economies are more reliant on cash than elsewhere so should not be the ones facing cuts and closures from big banks.

But Mr Greene noted that there was "powerful cross-party consensus" on the issue, raising hope for the cuts to services to be halted.

Jamie Greene also asked Neil Gray, the Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy, whether the minister could press the importance of physical banking on the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the UK Government when he next meets with them.

He told Holyrood: "I hope that the corporate comms and Government relations people of our big banks are watching the debate and squirming in their offices, because the cross-party consensus is powerful.

Mr Gray responded: "I have met Jamie Greene previously, because he has raised some of the concerns with me directly, and I have been able to use them in my interactions with Lloyds Banking Group.

"I can give him and other colleagues the assurance that I have made those very points. I met Lloyds Banking Group in November to discuss a range of topics, including branch closures, and to express to it my concerns and those of fellow MSPs with whom I have spoken."

After the debate, Mr Greene said: "Banks absolutely have a social and moral responsibility to the communities they serve, as well as their financial and economic duties.

"In today's debate we heard rare cross-party consensus on how the removal of mobile banking is affecting people in rural areas, particularly elderly residents.

"This problem is especially acute for our island community on Cumbrae, where banking services have been slashed.

"I hope MSPs will support my own debate to discuss in detail how we can help ensure rural and island communities across Scotland maintain access to vital financial services."