Simply earlier than the shutters got here down for good at 4:30pm at the moment, Howard, a long-time buyer of Ulster Financial institution made a last try to make use of the financial institution’s ATM outdoors.
ut the 76-year-old Malahide resident was met with an ‘Out of Service’ discover on the display shortly earlier than workers bolted the door and bid ‘adieu’ to the department on Malahide’s major road that has been a fixture within the north county Dublin seaside village for so long as he can bear in mind.
Howard has been a buyer of the financial institution for the previous 22 years and is unhappy to see the department and 62 others throughout Eire shut their doorways for good at the moment.
“I don’t prefer to see them closing down,” he informed the Impartial.ie.
Howard doesn’t personal a pc and like many individuals, particularly older prospects, isn’t a fan of on-line banking.
“I simply discover it useful sufficient to go in and get what I would like and do what I need to do,” he mentioned.
Though he has one other account at a competing financial institution, he worries that it too could shut its doorways or change to on-line banking solely.
“What would we do if then in the event that they removed them?,” he requested.
And even earlier than the financial institution closed, he mentioned primary transactions, like requesting an announcement of his account, grew to become an ordeal.
“I requested for an announcement and I used to be ready two months,” he mentioned.
“In between these two months I went again in requested ‘the place is my assertion and why has that machine gone as a result of I may go in, put my card in and in a single minute, get my assertion. I feel I had to return in 3 times,” he mentioned.
Standing outdoors the financial institution with a bucket in hand to lift funds for the native RNLI charity,, fellow Malahide resident and Ulster financial institution buyer Dave Mehigan, (60), mentioned he can even miss his native department after being compelled to modify banks since he grew to become a buyer in 2012.
Though it wasn’t an enormous ordeal, given he had only one or two direct debits to kind out, he mentioned: “I’d have most popular to remain reasonably than have to modify.”
Native TD and Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien, who’s from Malahide and was passing by the financial institution yesterday, mentioned it’s a tragic day for the financial institution and its workers.
“It’s a tragic day for the village. Ulster Financial institution has been right here for God is aware of how lengthy in Malahide. I do know lots of the workers, I used to financial institution with them, I had my mortgage with them which is now transferred out. However I’m unhappy to see it. Nice workers right here and having selection for patrons is a matter. And the switch has been tough as nicely, in equity to Ulster Financial institution workers, who’ve helped as a lot as they’ll,” he mentioned.
However in contrast to many rural cities and villages which will have only one financial institution “we’re lucky sufficient in Malahide, we’ve obtained Everlasting TSB and AIB and Financial institution of Eire, however that’s not the case in each city round Eire the place they’re wholly depending on it”, he mentioned.
“I’d know the workers (in Malahide) from being out and in of there for years and actually good workers and I feel we’ve obtained to essentially re-double our efforts to ensure that those that have had difficulties in transferring (are taken care of). However the banks that stay are notably cognisant of our seniors and the transfer in direction of on-line banking is ok for a lot of, however not for all and that we nonetheless present acceptable counter providers and providers for patrons who want them.”
“My people are of a senior age as nicely and I see it shut hand a few of the difficulties they’ve,” he added.
Native businesswoman Maureen Lee, proprietor of the Malahide Florist store which is positioned immediately throughout the road from the department, mentioned there’s a “cohort of people who find themselves older who’ve been right here all their life, they discover it a bit upsetting.”
“It’s unhappy to see a few of the ladies shedding their jobs. They’re pretty ladies, certainly one of them was right here earlier shopping for flowers for her buddy who has misplaced her job. It’s unhappy to see that,” she mentioned.
Native prospects can even miss the department which was positioned proper within the ‘diamond’ on the principle road which was useful for customers and folks going to the native pubs and eating places, she added.
“It’s unhappy to see them go. It’s a small village and it’s unhappy to see any enterprise closing down. I don’t know the way it will influence on the opposite banks (within the village). Effectively it’s the agricultural cities which can be going to be affected as a result of they may have a BOI or AIB however a few of them solely have Ulster. It’s by no means excellent news when a enterprise closes down. They’ve been right here 25 years, it’s the tip of an period,” she mentioned.
