Branches of the Bank of Scotland in the Western Isles were shut for two days because the absence of transport links stopped relief staff covering for ill colleagues.
Customers of the Bank of Scotland (BoS) across Uist and Benbecula were left without counter facilities between Thursday and Monday.
Comhairle cuts reducing the plane service coupled with the RMT ferry strike prevented relief personnel from Stornoway travelling to the affected branches in the Uists.
The Lochmaddy branch is normally closed on Thursdays but it did not open on Friday either. The premises in Balivanich were also closed both days.
Staff illness shuts two island bank branches
1 July 2015
BoS said the situation was "outwith our control" with a number of staff off sick at the same time.
A staff member was booked to fly from Stornoway on Thursday but thick fog delayed their flight indefinitely. No air travel was possible the following day as the council has axed the Friday plane service.
The ill employees were still off work by the time of the ferry strike which prevented any travel across the Sound of Harris.
Notices were put up in bank windows in advance advising the branches would be shut on the Friday.
It is understood one staff member was available at Balivanich though three others were off sick or on annual leave resulting in the closure. Normally around five personnel work at the premises but one left and has not been replaced, it is believed.
The closures left customers in a fix. Businesses were unable to deposit takings before the weekend and shops, hotels and petrol stations were left without change for the busy weekend trade.
A Bank of Scotland spokesperson said: “We make every effort to ensure branches are operational, however a number of factors out with our control prevented us from maintaining the usual opening hours at our Benbecula and Lochmaddy branches last week.
"Due to staff illness we could not open the Benbecula branch last Thursday and adverse weather conditions meant flights were delayed, preventing Stornoway staff from providing cover.
"Notices were put in branch windows advising customers that the ferry strike would mean the branches would not open Friday 26th June.
"We apologise to customers for the inconvenience caused.”