Concern raised in Castlederg about closure of local Ulster Bank branch

by Gráinne Connolly

Concern has been raised across local communities after yesterday's announcement that Ulster Bank is to close 11 of its branches in Northern Ireland next year. 

http://www.goqradio.com/midulster/news/q-radio-local-news/ulster-bank-to-close-eleven-branches-across-northern-ireland/

Among them is Castlederg's branch, which is currently the only bank left in the town. 

Once it's gone, local people with have no other choice but to travel to the likes of Omagh or Strabane to carry out their banking which they're not able to complete online. 

Castlederg based Ulster Unionist Derry City and Strabane District Councillor, Alderman Derek Hussey is urging Ulster Bank to reconsider the proposed closure of their branch and, to "put the impact of their actions on customers ahead of efforts to maximise their profits". 

"This proposed closure together with other announced closures by Ulster Bank flies in the face of the claims that they are a customer-focused bank.

"This is a decision which has obviously only been taken to enhance the bank's profits rather than to improve their service to their loyal customers. 

"The Ulster Bank made a pre-tax profit of £58m in 2016. It's parent Royal Bank of Scotland is still over 70% owened by the British taxpayer and yet this the loyalty they show to long-standing customers. 

"I myself have been a customer of Ulster Bank for close on 50 years and I am appalled at their proposed closure of the last remaining Bank in Castlederg. 

"I am a regular personal and business customer at the Castlederg Branch and any time I enter there are customers in front of me and when I am leaving there are other customers waiting. 

"This is an active Ulster Bank Branch with excellent staff providing a valued service to our community."

While the Councillor acknowledged that banking has changed a lot over the years due to the likes of online banking, he feels it will only make banking more difficult, especially for local businesses and people who have limited access to online services. 

Councillors unanimously agreed at a recent Derry and Strabane District Council meeting to seek a meeting with Ulster Bank in specific regard to Castlederg. 

A Change.org petition has also been set up by local people living in Castlederg and it's already received over 700 signatures within one day. 

https://www.change.org/p/ulster-bank-save-our-ulster-bank-in-castlederg-from-closure/fbog/46265214?recruiter=46265214&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=autopublish&utm_term=autopublish

The petition called 'Save our Ulster Bank in Castlederg from closure' states: 

"We Must Prevent The Closure Of The Ulster Bank in the town of Castlederg  Closing down a bank in a community has a very significant impact.

"We can't just allow banks make that decision based on short-term, cost saving criteria. Too much is at stake for a local community as there was an understanding that there would be no further closures affecting the Ulster Bank within a community.,

"I would urge them to reconsider there decision not to close the bank in the town of Castlederg and keep it open as we could not do with out a bank in our town."

More residents in the area had taken to social media to express their anger at the news, including the town's Sinn Féin Councillor, Ruairi McHugh: