Dublin South West Sinn Féin TD, Seán Crowe, has said that the closure of bank branches will inevitably impact on customer service following the 220 jobs losses that were announced by Ulster Bank this week.

Commenting on the announcement, Deputy Crowe said:

“I am extremely saddened and frustrated to learn of the decision taken by Ulster Bank to shut 22 of its branches right across the State with the potential loss of 220 jobs.

“These planned closures will mean that many residents and business owners will no longer have access to banking services locally and this will obviously have a devastating impact on all those being made unemployed, and on the wider local economies in the areas of the planned closures.

“While this is clearly a corporate decision which has been made by a private company, I would of course strongly urge Ulster Bank to reconsider its decision and to make every effort to keep both its branches open for the good of the local communities involved.

“Only three months ago Sinn Féin questioned Ulster Bank Senior Management over what plans if any the company had to close further branches, and the bank gave no indication then that any further closures were planned.

“Sinn Fein has written to management at Ulster Bank asking that it rethinks these closures, and has requested that the bank now agree to meet with the local communities involved in order to sit down with them and discuss the fate of its bank branches and in an effort to retain these vital services.”

ENDS