‘ Poor loyalty’ of Ulster Bank
SLIGO County Council is to write to Ulster Bank Chief Executive Gerry Mallon to ask him to reverse his decision to shut their Ballymote branch.
The decision “leaves us with one Ulster Bank branch in the whole of Sligo and Leitrim” according to Councillor Keith Henry, who along with Cllrs Dara Mulvey and Margaret Gormley raised the issue.
Cllr Mulvey wanted the bank to provide training for loyal customers who are “being forced to switch to online banking.”
Cllr Gormley wants the bank to reverse their decision.
Cllr Henry condemned the lack of local consultation by the bank: “I’m sure the decision wasn’t even made in Ireland - it gives poor loyalty to customers who have supported the bank for over 100 years. It’s going to cause great difficulty for customers.”
He also said the decision now raised a security issue for customers with cashing having to travel into Sligo to lodge it.
“It’s sad to see banks which were once pillars of the community like this. Ulster Bank says it’s a cost saving measure. They’re not for turning on this unfortunately,” he added.
Cllr Mulvey said: “I would like them to come back to us and tell us what training they’re going to give to the people there being forced to start online banking, or go to Stephen Street where there’s no parking.”
He also pointed to the security risk associated with businesses having to hold on to cash for longer. “The Royal Bank of Scotland has a civic responsibility to the people who have supported them for the past 100 years,” he added.
Cllr Mulvey alluded to the fact that the Bank of Ireland branch in Ballymote is operating a restricted service and wondered what kind of service Ulster Bank would be operating in Sligo: “I’ve met people who have gone in to the bank and been told they have to go to the hole in the wall.”
Councillor Margaret Gormley condemned the way in which Ulster Bank announced the closure of the branch.
“It will be a major blow to the farming community. It’s another blow to rural Ireland. There is no way people are going to go to Sligo or Ballina,” she told the meeting.
“Where do we go from here? It’s not a done deal. We need to get on to Gerry Mallon. It’s another service being taken away from rural Ireland,” said Cllr Gormley.