Another bank is pulling out of Castle Douglas.
The TSB announced the closure of the King Street outlet under a cull of 164 branches across the UK.
The move, which will take effect in January, follows the exit of the Clydesdale Bank from the town in 2018.
Castle Douglas Development Forum events co-ordinator Gillian Warden was saddened by the news.
She said: “Obviously there will be businesses and people who bank with them.
“They will now have to go to Dumfries. When the Clydesdale shut customers had to go elsewhere as well.
“Another closure is not good news for the town and there’s the job losses too.
“It’s sad to see any empty properties on the street.”
Ms Warden, who runs In House Chocolates on King Street, added: “Years ago any space on the street would be snapped up straight away.
“It’s not like that now.”
MSP Finlay Carson also expressed his concern at the decision to shut the branch.
He has written to TSB bosses for “urgent clarification” on alternative arrangements.
Mr Carson said: “The closure of the TSB branch in Castle Douglas will be rightly greeted with a lot of concern, particularly from elderly people who are used to over-the-counter service, as well as those small-and-medium businesses which rely on a physical banking link for the smooth operation of commerce.
“Whilst the pace of banking is changing rapidly, with more people turning to online and mobile apps, we shouldn’t forget that many older people rely on their traditional branch service.
“In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic it is doubly important that unnecessary damage to community cohesion can be avoided wherever possible.”
Chief executive Debbie Crosbie confirmed the branch would shut its doors on January 19.
She said: “Closing any of our branches is never an easy decision. But our customers are banking differently – with a marked shift to digital banking.
“We are reshaping our business to transform the customer experience and set us up for the future.
“This means having the right balance between branches on the high street and our digital platforms.
Ms Crosbie added: “We remain committed to our branch network and will retain one of the largest in the UK.”
