Municipal councils and business leaders in Port Hawkesbury and Canso are requesting meetings with Bank of Montreal (BMO) officials, following the announcement of bank closures slated for July 25. 

The decision will leave Canso without any financial institution, transferring local accounts to the nearest BMO location in New Glasgow, about 140 kilometres away.

BMO is urging customers who don't wish to make the two-hour drive to consider the company's digital banking options.

"It was a total, total s…