Bank of Ireland to close 15 branches in Northern Ireland

By PA news

The Bank of Ireland is to close 15 branches in Northern Ireland.

That's more than half of it's 28 branches currently operating here.

In the republic 88 outlets will close reducing its network from 257.

The bank says technology is evolving and customers are using branches less and less.

Bank of Ireland said the majority of the branches that are closing are self-service locations which do not offer a counter service.

The Bank of Ireland is to close 15 branches in Northern Ireland. That's more than half of it's 28 branches currently operating here. In the republic 88 outlets will close reducing its network from 257. pic.twitter.com/n8dS36slK9

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The closures come after Ulster Bank’s parent company, NatWest, last month announced that it was withdrawing Ulster Bank from the Irish market.

Bank of Ireland group chief executive Francesca McDonagh said: “Technology is evolving and customers are using branches less, year on year on year.

“Covid-19 has accelerated this changing behaviour and we’ve seen a seismic shift towards digital banking over the past 12 months.”

Ms McDonagh said Bank of Ireland has reached a “tipping point” between online and offline banking, with its mobile app the most popular way to bank. In contrast the number of people visiting branches has “sharply declined” and is now just over half of what it was in 2017.

“We know news like this can cause concern for some customers and for the communities that we serve,” she added.

“We’re not making these changes immediately – no branches will close in the next six months.

“That allows us to ensure the An Post partnership is up and running before any branches close, and gives us time to communicate fully with all our customers about every option available to them online, in a nearby BOI branch, or at a local post office.”