Grand Manan residents will now face a lengthy commute just to go to the bank.
The lone bank branch on the island of 2,600 people will close for good on Wednesday.
Scotiabank announced earlier this year that it would be closing its branch on Route 776.
It is a decision some say will create hardship for many residents and business owners.
That is because the nearest bank branch for them is in mainland New Brunswick.
Getting there involves a 90-minute ferry ride to Blacks Harbour, followed by a 20-minute drive to St. George.
There is also a four-hour wait between ferry crossings most of the year, meaning a trip to the bank could take upwards of eight hours in many cases.
Residents organized several protests over the past few months in an effort to reverse Scotiabank’s.
“If the bank closes, my bank visit after that will be nine hours, two ferry rides, and what I call a new bank fee which will be imposed on me by Scotiabank of over $60 for ferry fares and gas,” resident Gregg Russell said in an interview in May.
“Some of our islanders with severe disabilities and some of our seniors physically cannot do a nine-hour bank day. We have some low-income families that cannot afford to spend $60 to go get $40 cash.”
A delegation even took their message to Ottawa, meeting with senior staff from Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland’s office.
Mayor Bonnie Morse said in June that the community has tried to get another bank or credit union to set up on the island but has not had any success to date.
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