Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 March 2021
53. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Finance if ATMs will remain in circumstances in which the branch of a bank (details supplied) is closing, specifically in Kilkee, Miltown Malbay and Tulla, County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13802/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware, as Minister for Finance I have no role in the commercial decisions made by any bank in the State. This includes banks in which the State has a shareholding.
Decisions in this regard, including the management of branch networks, are the sole responsibility of the board and management of the banks, which must be run on an independent and commercial basis. The independence of banks in which the State has a shareholding is protected by Relationship Frameworks which are legally binding documents that cannot be changed unilaterally. These frameworks, which are publicly available, were insisted upon by the European Commission to protect competition in the Irish market. The Bank of Ireland Relationship Framework can be found at the following link:
BOI:https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/fc36e6-bank-of-ireland-relationship-framework-march-2012/.
However, Bank of Ireland did provide me with a briefing in advance which was consistent with its announcement on the matter on 1st March.
Some of the key points contained in the announcement are:
- The decision to close these branches is in response to changing customer behaviour with a significant acceleration in digital banking.
- The branches closing are predominately self-service locations which do not offer a counter service.
- To preserve local access to physical banking for those who want it, the bank has agreed a new partnership with An Post which will allow personal and business customers use their local post office for a range of banking services – including to withdraw cash and make cash and cheque lodgements – at no additional cost. The closing Bank of Ireland branches all have a post office within, on average, less than 500 meters.
- The bank confirmed that the new partnership with An Post will be available to all Bank of Ireland customers before any branch closes.
- Furthermore, the bank stated that there will be no closures for six months.
On staff, the bank commented that it will be working closely with all colleagues at these branches and will be setting out a range of options which include relocating to a different branch, moving to a new role in the bank, or voluntary redundancy for those who choose it.
The full Bank of Ireland announcement on the matter can be found at the following link:
https://www.bankofireland.com/about-bank-of-ireland/press-releases/2021/bank-of-ireland-announces-significant-changes-to-branch-network-and-local-banking-services/.
Notwithstanding this, officials in my Department referred your question to Bank of Ireland and received the following response:
"In the Republic of Ireland, a total of 88 branches will close, 78 of which have an external ATM. All of these locations will close in full, with the exception of a small number of locations (4) where there is no alternative ATM available. In those locations the Bank will maintain an ATM for cash withdrawal purposes.
"The Bank will retain 169 branches nationwide, the majority of which have an External ATM which can be used for cash withdrawal and cash and cheque lodgement 24/7.
"The majority of the closing branches are self-service and do not offer counter services or coin facilities. However, all locations have a post office within on average, less than 500 metres. Post offices have the capacity to manage cash (for both lodgement and withdrawal) on behalf of business customers, and offer longer operating hours and Saturday opening.
"Bank of Ireland will continue to offer Cash in Transit services (including collection of notes, coins, FX and priority lodgements directly from a customer’s premises) for businesses who deal in very large amounts of cash."
