Three ulster bank branches to close today

Three Ulster Bank branches in the region will close shut their doors for good from close of business later today.

Branches in Clones and Castleblayney in Co Monaghan and in Manorhamilton, Co Leitrim, were among 14 branches nationwide earmarked for closure by the banking institution last Novemeber.

It follow other local closures in recent years after the bank shut branches in Belturbet, Killeshandra, Kilnaleck, a part-time operation in Swanlinbar, and branches in Castlepollard and Granard, Co Longford.

The closure of the Manorhamilton branch means the bank will no longer have a presence in County Leitrim, while the closure in Clones marks the ends a 143-year association with the bank and the iconic corner building it occupied on the border town's Diamond.

Some reprieve has been given with regard to the Ulster Bank in Clones, after it was confirmed the ATM will remain at its current location. The same cannot be said for the branch in Castleblayney however.

Ulster Bank has written to customers in the affected branches.
The latest closures are part of an announcement made last year by Ulster Bank, which said it aimed to reduce the number of branches across the island of Ireland from 214 to between 175 and 185.