Eleventh hour appeal for Ulster Bank to remain open until 2025

Eleventh hour appeal for Ulster Bank to remain open until 2025

13 November 2024

AN eleventh hour appeal has been made for Downpatrick’s Ulster Bank to remain open until the New Year.

The Market Street branch is scheduled to close in just under two weeks’ time with the decision blamed on a range of factors including changes in customer branch usage, the types of transactions they undertake and ways customers can bank locally.

Bank officials say the decision to close the Downpatrick branch was taken “after careful consideration” and while it will remain open one week longer than scheduled before closing on November 26, one local politician hopes it can stay open in the run-up to the busy Christmas period.

It was revealed several weeks ago that in light of new legislation to further protect free access to cash in communities, Ulster Bank was working with the Financial Conduct Authority and the banking industry to provide further detail on cash services available in the Downpatrick area.

This was to ensure the bank was supporting customers in locations where its branches are due to close.

A number of politicians have criticised the branch closure, including Downpatrick councillor Gareth Sharvin and MLAs Andy McMurray and Nick Mathison.

A call has also been issued for a so-called banking hub to be set up in the town.

Cllr Sharvin has written to the Ulster Bank expressing disappointment that the branch cannot stay open until the New Year. 

He said that as a long term Ulster Bank customer he was “extremely disappointed” with the closure decision.

Cllr Sharvin said it was previously announced that the branch was expected to close next Tuesday, but this was delayed in early October as new legislation was brought in to ensure people had access to money transaction facilities.

Inform

“The information from Ulster Bank at the beginning of October was to inform us that they were required to get a report to assess the availability of money access facilities such as ATMs in the Downpatrick town centre area,” he said.

“What the bank did not tell the public at the time of announcing the delay in closing the facility was that it had already received a report on the issue previous day detailing the outcome. The report was clearly ready, but the bank had to do due process and it is disappointing it has decided to only extend the branch opening by one week.”

Mr McMurray said he too was disappointed the Downpatrick branch is closing.

“Access to cash and the full range of banking services is very important, especially for vulnerable individuals who have difficulty travelling to alternative branches in another town or using card payments,” he said.

“ Just because the number of customers using the branch is small doesn’t mean its services are not needed. A cashless society and online banking may not pose problems for many of us, but it often hits the most vulnerable the hardest.”

Mr McMurray said using cash can be helpful for people who have difficulty managing their finances, while small businesses often prefer cash for smaller transactions because the fees that come with card transactions cut into their small margins. 

And he said online banking online or by phone didn’t work for everyone.

Mr McMurray continued: “I would want to be assured that appropriate, alternative access is in place for the full range of services currently offered in branch. 

“While an agreement between the Ulster Bank and the Post Office will provide some mitigation in relation to cash access, the Post Office only offers certain services, not the full range available in a bank.”

Mr McMurray said banking hubs and mobile banking units are being established in towns and villages 

across Northern Ireland and called for similar options to be explored for Downpatrick.

Mr Mathison said many villages along the Lecale coast relied heavily on access to cash and banking services in Downpatrick.