The Municipality of the District of Guysborough (MODG) is not taking the news that the Bank of Montreal intends to close its quad county branches, sitting down.

Council has put in a formal request to the Regional Vice President, Ms. Deanne Chaulk, as well as representatives of BMO to meet with them on the matter, as soon as possible.

BMO informed its clients earlier in the week that it will shut down the branches in Canso and Port Hawkesbury by July 25th and accounts transferred to New Glasgow.

This led to an emergency council meeting, Wednesday in Canso.

In a news release Thursday, from the MODG, Warden Paul Long says there are many reasons why this decision is devastating to community members.

“The BMO branch in Canso is an integral part of the community and has provided services for decades to residents of all communities across MODG. Losing that service affects every household in that end of our Municipality and is a short-sighted decision by the corporate decision makers in Montreal and Toronto.”

“BMO rakes in billions of dollars in profits each year, and with that fact known, our council believes they have a corporate responsibility to the customers and staff in rural Canada who helped build the corporation into what it is today!”

Long adds, the 160 km clients will have to travel to do in-person banking is outrageous and expecting staff to relocate is “untenable”.

Accounts are expected to be in New Glasgow by July 28th.