Three banks in Clare are to close their doors for good, following an announcement by Bank of Ireland earlier today.
The Tulla, Kilkee and Miltown Malbay branches are among 88 across the country to close by the end of September, along with 15 more in Northern Ireland.
The move has been described as a major blow for rural areas of the county in particular.
Prior to today’s announcement, fears had already been expressed that the Tulla, Kilkee and Miltown Malbay branches of Bank of Ireland were to close, and those suspicions were confirmed when staff were briefed early this morning.
Bank of Ireland says the move has been prmopted by a seismic shift in customer behaviour over the last year, including an “evident” trend towards digital banking.
BOI Group CEO Francesca McDonagh says the closures are in response to customer demand.
Reacting today, Senator Timmy Dooley condemned the move, while his colleague Cathal Crowe says it marks the death knell for rural Clare. Senator Martin Conway said it was hugely disappointing while Clare’s Independent TD accused the bank of acting in a “disingenuous” fashion.
Scariff Deputy Michael McNamara believes the bank’s move, as well as recent comments by Tanaiste Leo Varadkar who said people have to ‘move on’, shows lack of understanding of the whole of society.
Today’s announcement means the three towns impacted will no longer have a banking service, although Bank of Ireland has entered into a deal with An Post to bring its service to its outlets..
In Kilkee, it’s a second blow, after the closure of AIB in 2012.
Former Kilkee Town Councillor Elaine Haugh Hayes says rural areas need services to survive.
Bank if Ireland says the An Post deal will see it offer banking services at over 900 locations, 32 of them in Clare.
Maghera Fianna Fáil Councillor Pat Hayes, who was among those campaigning to keep the Tulla branch open, says it’s better to have that option than not.
But he believes the devil will lie in the detail.
In Miltown Malbay, meanwhile, calls are being made on Bank of Ireland to retain its ATM in the town, even if the bank is to close.
Managing Director of the Armada Hotel in Spanish Point, John Burke says the closure is a blow for local businesses and he hopes the An Post partnership will fill the void.
