IT is often the case that when the Royal Bank of Scotland hits the headlines it’s for the wrong reasons.

Locally the Tele has reported on the community’s concerns at branch closures in Port Glasgow, Gourock, West Blackhall Street and most recently Kilmacolm.

How can it be fair that a bank that was bailed out by the public is closing services that the public rely on?

A fair question indeed and one that the bank has failed to adequately address up to now.

However, I’m glad to say that more recently RBS has featured in the local news on a more positive note.

Their decision to recruit 70 new permanent telephony mortgage advisors for their centre in Greenock will bolster the workforce to just over 900.

The development reinforces the centre as a key employer in the area.

I was glad to hear in response to my correspondence with RBS management regarding the announcement that its ambition is to recruit local people for the new roles.

This shows they have confidence in the area’s workforce.

It will bring a welcome stimulus to Inverclyde’s economy and hopefully encourage other businesses to invest locally too. The announcement comes shortly after Webhelp UK, which is based close to the mortgage centre at Cartsburn, confirmed that it will be creating 20 new jobs — raising the total workforce to 250.

I hope that the good news continues and that RBS continues to hit the headlines for the right reasons in the coming weeks and months.

I congratulate staff at RBS’s Greenock mortgage centre on their 20th anniversary.