https://www.irishnews.com/business/businessnews/2023/11/21/news/ulster_bank_announce_plans_to_close_10_branches_in_northern_ireland-3786649/

Ulster Bank has announced plans to close 10 branches in Northern Ireland with the loss of 21 jobs.

The NatWest-owned lender has confirmed it will begin closing the branches from February 2024, reducing its northern network to 25 locations.

Branches on the closure list include: Ballynahinch, Crumlin, Downpatrick, Glengormley, Kings Road (Belfast), Lisnaskea, Lurgan, Ormeau Road (Belfast), University Road (Belfast) and Waterside (Derry).

It comes just months after Ulster Bank announced 250 redundancies in Northern Ireland as part of the bank’s overall withdrawal process from the Republic.

In a statement on the branch closures, a spokesperson for Ulster Bank said: “As with many industries, most of our customers are shifting to mobile and online banking, because it’s faster and easier for people to manage their financial lives.

“We understand and recognise that digital solutions aren’t right for everyone or every situation, and that when we close branches we have to make sure that no one is left behind.

“We take our responsibility seriously to support the people who face challenges in moving online, so we are investing to provide them with support and alternatives that work for them.

“We will be investing over £3m across our branch network in the next two years, following £3.25m of investment in 2023.

“We will be making no further changes to our branch network until at least 2026.”

LIST OF PLANNED CLOSURES BY DATE:

Ormeau Road (Belfast), 20 Feb 2024
Kings Road (Belfast), 21 Feb 2024
Waterside, 27 February 2024
Ballynahinch, 28 Feb 2024
Lurgan, 5 March 2024
Lisnaskea, 6 March 2024
University Road (Belfast), 12 March 2024
Glengormley, 13 March 2024
Crumlin, 20 March 2024
Downpatrick, 19 November 2024

by PigeonNipples

5 comments

  1. >Ormeau Road (Belfast)

    Will the new tenant be an Instagram-friendly cafe or shoddily outfitted apartments?

  2. Maybe there would be more use of the branch is their opening hours weren’t so shitty.

    Tried one last week but it closed at lunch, then went to go to the one in the city centre but it didn’t open till 9:30 and closes by 4. So can’t go before work, can’t go at lunch, can’t go after work.

  3. Genius move. I recently tried to renew a 6 month investment with the revolutionary idea of reinvesting it for a year. Was told on the phone that I’d need to go to my nearest branch, which is now 40 miles away.

  5. Sadly, despite local counsellors who will point out mobile and online banking doesn’t work for older generations, or folks who aren’t technologically minded, this’ll just cause more issues in small communities.

    And of course it’s only 4 weeks until Christmas, so a nice little kick in the teeth there for the staff too.

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