Bank of Scotland goes extra mile with banks on wheels

You may have heard of mobile phone banking, but how about mobile banking? Bank of Scotland has invested £200,000 in a pair of Vauxhall Movanos set to be used as mobile branches to serve customers in remote areas.

The Movano 3500 medium wheelbase chassis-cabs have been modded to include a tonne of features. There's full air conditioning in the cashier's area, and heating in the 'passenger waiting area', which has seating for six customers. Security is provided by a full CCTV system, audible alarms, bullet-proof cashier glass, and a tracking system that allows controllers to plot the van's movements in the event of a hijacking or theft.

All that gear is powered by main and auxiliary batteries. If they run out of juice, an onboard charger allows power to be drawn from a domestic mains source, so don't be alarmed if the cashier borrows your kitchen plugs while you cash a cheque.

The 3.5-tonne mobile banks are said to have 'car-like driving characteristics' and can be driven by staff with ordinary driving licences. The anti-lock braking system (ABS) and emergency brake assist (EBA) help prevent hairy driving moments in adverse weather, while creature comforts include an eight-way adjustable driver's seat with armrest, height-adjustable head restraints and a CD player.

The mobile branches will serve around 300 people per week in small Scottish communities in the Shetland Isles, Perth and some of the most inaccessible parts of the Highlands.

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