Ulster Bank to shut two local branches

Ulster Bank are to close two branches in Co Cavan as part of its latest nationwide restructuring.

A total of 22 of the bank's branches across the country will shut, which will result in around 220 redundancies, the majority of which they hope will be volunteer-led.

The bank is set to close branches in Arva and Cootehill in Co, Cavan, as well as its branches in Carrickmacross in Co Monaghan and in Edgeworthstown, Co Longford.

Ulster Bank said an average of 30 customers per day used each of the affected branches in the past week.

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.

The lender adds that the announcement follows a customer shift away from traditional in-branch banking towards digital channels.

'Closing a branch is a difficult decision which we do not take lightly, and our branch network remains an important part of how we serve our customers.

'However, the role of the branch continues to move toward advice and away from day-to-day transactions, with only 10% of our customer interactions now happening in branch,” said Ulster Bank CEO Gerry Mallon.

In order to assist affected customers, the bank has put in place the newly created roles of community bankers and two new mobile banks.