Protests as Ulster Bank branches close

Protests took place today outside Ulster Bank branches in the region as they shut their doors for the last time. In Cavan, there were protests in Belturbet, Killeshandra and Kilnaleck on the last day of trading before accounts are transferred to Ballyconnell, Arva and Ballyjamesduff respectively.

Sub-offices in Carrigallen on the Cavan-Leitrim border, in Castlepollard near Finea, and in Swanlinbar have closed as of last week.

The closures, announced last year as part of a major service review by the bank of its network on both sides of the border, continues to draw strong criticism from people in the areas affected, who have accused the bank of effectively turning its bank on them.

Footfall
In Killeshandra, the local Community Council compiled a survey to gauge the support towards retaining banking services in the town, with up on 65% of those who surveyed saying they were members of Ulster Bank, over 50% of whom had held accounts for longer than 20 years.
The decision to close branches across the country was based, Ulster Bank says, on low customer footfall within branches affected, though the Killeshandra survey returned evidence to suggest more than a third visited the bank on a weekly basis with almost 90% using night-safe and ATM services.
Sixty per cent of those surveyed say they will move to another bank once the branch in Killeshandra closes.
The imminent closure has prompted Brendan Dunleavy from Killeshandra to speak out at what he described as “cynicism, ingratitude and sheer brass-neckery” on the bank’s behalf.
He said that generations of Cavan people have banked with the Royal Bank of Scotland-owned institution, and feels it is essential to put on record the massive cumulative profits he estimates Ulster Bank have made in the county.
In 100 years, Mr Dunleavy estimates, with conversion to current currency valuation, that Cavan people have deposited with the bank in the region of €20bn, with profits to the bank at one per cent standing at €200m.
“It is still not too late for local communities disadvantaged by their bank branch’s abrupt closures to make their voices heard”, Mr Dunleavy told The Celt.
“The doors on the Boardrooms of RBS/ Ulster Bank should at least be rapped-on to let them know somebody is still here. The advice and the support of our own Financial Services Ombudsman should also be brought to bear to help solve this problem.”

Goodwill
He also believes as an act of goodwill to the towns being departed by the bank, a support programme for local schools and sports clubs should be introduced.
“It would go a long way to mending broken bridges,” he said.
Meanwhile, Independent Belturbet Town Councillor Tony Gorby has urged members of the community in Belturbet to avail of the newly-expanded Credit Union banking services in the town for fear that they too, in the future, may also fall by the way-side if left unused.
“They’re the only show in town now,” Cllr Gorby said of the community banking institution, which of late extended opening hours in the town, and are set to introduce their banking services to Kilnaleck.
“Friday morning will be the last day Ulster Bank will open in a lot of big towns across this county. The Credit Union is all we have left in Belturbet. The bank has gone and now the people of this town need to get behind it, or who knows what’ll happen down the line?”

For full story and more reaction, see next week's Celt.