Glanmire BoI closure ‘disappointing but not a shock’

The Glanmire Bank of Ireland branch is among 88 branches in the Republic of Ireland set to close in September. For locals and customers of the Glanmire branch, this may mean a major shift in daily routines, with many forced to redirect their business to the Little Island branch.

According to Michael Burns, director of Glanmire Community Association, news of the closure was somewhat expected following the closure of the cash desk within the branch.

“When the cash desk went, really, the bank went. We knew there was an end in sight,” Mr Burns told The Avondhu.

The cash desk located in the Glanmire BoI branch was removed roughly a year ago meaning many locals wishing to lodge cash into accounts redirected their business to the Little Island branch.

“It’s not closing until September so people do have time. There is a sense of general disappointment but it’s not a shock. I am very disappointed, I’ve been going in there since it opened,” Mr Burns added.

One of the main aspects of the Glanmire branch which will be missed is the staff according to Mr Burns, as he pointed to the mortgage advisor as someone who people would miss in the area.

Group chief executive Francesca McDonagh told reporters that staff would be offered a ‘ range of options' such as transfers to other branches or different parts of the business where working from home would be an option as well as voluntary redundancy.

“People will miss the mortgage advisor, she’ll be gone which is the biggest hit but I am delighted that still will be looked after in other branches,” Mr Burns said.

Bank of Ireland has signed a deal to allow personal and business customers use their local An Post office for certain services including cash withdrawals and cash and cheque lodgements in lieu of the closure.

Other Cork branches set to closure beginning in September include Mitchelstown, Cobh, Youghal, Millstreet, Kanturk, Dunmanway, Bantry and Cork Institute of Technology.

The Cahir, Cashel and Templemore branches in Tipperary are also to close, while in Limerick, Abbeyfeale, Askeaton, Bruff, Caherdavin, Rathkeale, Roxboro and the University of Limerick are all to see closures of BoI branches.