Fight to retain ATMs in towns

Talks are understood to be ongoing with senior management officials at Ulster Bank aimed at retaining an ATM in towns affected by the recent branch closure announcement.

The intention is to retain an ATM at Arva and Cootehill in Co Cavan, while Carrickmacross will be served by a mobile bank due to start operating in that area.
The recent closure announcements, Ulster Bank claim, are in response to the changing nature of commercial banking, due to a reduction in the reliance on traditional cash transactions and the increased use of technology. This they say has had a corresponding reduction in the number of weekly visits to branches.
Last month it was revealed that a total of 22 Ulster bank branches across the country will shut, resulting in around 220 redundancies, the majority of which the company hopes will be voluntary.
The closures are scheduled to take place in June and September and, when complete, will leave Ulster Bank with 88 branches in the Republic of Ireland.
It follows a trend by the bank in the region in recent years after the closure of branches in Belturbet, Killeshandra, Kilnaleck, and a part-time operation in Swanlinbar in 2013, followed by further branches in Clones and Castleblayney in 2015.