Ulster Bank to provide some limited services in Castlederg following closure

by Gráinne Connolly

Castlederg Sinn Féin Councillor, Ruairí McHugh met with Ulster Bank's North Area Manager and Corporate Affairs and Communications Manager in Strabane recently, to discuss the future closure of the Castlederg Ulster Bank branch.

This closure has caused much concern among people living in the town and areas outside, as it leaves Castlederg without a single bank. 
 

Following the meeting, Councillor McHugh said that Ulster Bank has committed to provide some limited services to local customers when it closes: 

“This announced closure by Ulster Bank in November has left the town with no bank at all, with the Bank of Ireland and Northern Bank branches in the town having previously gone the same way.

"From the experience of meetings Sinn Féin held with the banks following previous closures I went into today's meeting under no illusion that the November decision was already a done deal but felt it important to express the community’s deep sense of disappointment at the decision but to establish, what if any, services the bank are willing to continue to provide for its loyal customers in the area.

“So, while the officials outlined the rationale for the branch closure including a 40% reduction in customer footfall, trends in online banking etc, I welcome the fact that they committed in the meeting to try and mitigate the closure by providing a number of services.

“These are: a community banker, with the current Castlederg branch manager, taking up a 1 day per week residence in a premises in the town (yet to be established) to provide face to face support to offer advice on everyday banking issues; a mobile bank on wheels unit in the town 1 day per week for 1 hour into the future where customers can lodge and withdraw money and finally; Techxperts with Ulster Bank employees with tech expertise on hand in lead up to branch closure and afterwards at the Strabane Branch to help and guide customers on how to use internet banking.”