The Isle of Man Bank has failed to embrace the island’s community ethos, two MHKs have said.

Peel and Glenfaba MHKs Geoffrey Boot and Ray Harmer have written to Bank bosses in an effort to prevent the closure of the last bank in the west.

In their letter to RBSI chief executive Andrew McLaughlin, the two Ministers said they hoped the ’disquiet, anger and deep concern’ caused by the Jersey-based company’s decision to close the branch had reached him.

The MHKs said that while the island may appear small, it is a ’national state with very distinct identities and requirements in the different parts of the island’.

And said: ’We believe that in making this decision, you have not embraced the community ethos of the Isle of Man nor lived up to your trading name, which had great brand loyalty in that the Isle of Man Bank has been perceived as the bank of the Isle of Man.

’The bank has been a part of the community for 150 years and it is almost unbelievable that it would disappear in the blink of an eye.’

They added: ’It is disappointing as we believe that the decision [to close] is both pre-emptive and premature as we are not aware of any alternative provision being offered, nor any consultation with either your customers or the local community.’

Mr Boot and Mr Harmer quoted the British Banking Association’s policy on closures in their letter which says ’this agreement will make sure customers still have banking services close at hand if a branch closes’.

It also requires banks to ’publish the results of their engagement and impact assessment and the considerations taken into account in assessing the impact of the branch closure, subject to the removal of commercially sensitive information’.

The MHKs added: ’We are not aware of any viable alternative for local businesses to undertake their daily banking arrangements and so far your bank has refused to provide any content or detail of your impact assessment, which has been described to us as "confidential and commercially sensitive".’

If the bank closes, the west of the island will have no dedicated banking services. However, Barclays and Lloyds, whose branches also closed in recent years, do have an agreement with the Post Office to run counter services on their behalf and deputy chairman Chris Thomas MHK (Douglas Central) has said the offer has been extended to RBSI, but the bank had not responded.

Mr Boot and Harmer said: ’Customers seeking conventional services now face a round trip to Douglas town centre during the working day, which could easily take 20% of their working time, difficult for small businesses and there are any of our constituents who are simply unable to travel to Douglas or that matter Port Erin.

’We would therefore ask you to reverse this decision and live up to your corporate social responsibility by ensuring that you have a branch in the west of the island, as well as the north, south and east.’

A protest against the closure is due to be held outside the Atholl Street branch in Peel at 10.30am on Saturday, September 19.