Seven Cork AIB branches to close

AIB is to close seven branches and sub offices in Cork as part of a transformation and cost reduction programme.

The branches affected are Mayfield, Innishannon, Passage West, Ballydehob, Buttevant, Schull and Newmarket.

Services at the Mayfield branch will transfer to Blackpool next year while Innishannon and Passage West will both transfer to Douglas in 2012. Ballydehob and Schull will transfer to Skibbereen, with Buttevant switching to Charleville. Newmarket will be subsumed by Kanturk in 2013.

The announcement comes the day after Permanent TSB announced it is to close four branches in Cork by the end of the year.

The closures and switches will mean that although customers in Innishannon will have their home bank located at Douglas, they will still be able to proceed with traditional banking in Bandon, which is eight kilometres away. 

AIB will also be expanding their services through An Post for locals in areas with branch closures to conduct financial lodgements  and withdrawls with debit and credit cards along with cheques in their local post office. 

“AIB is changing in response to customer needs,” said Denis O’Callaghan, Head of AIB Branch Banking.

“We have seen a very significant change in the way our customers wish to do their banking. As a result of this, many of our branches have seen a large decline in customer visits. Notwithstanding today’s announcement, branches will remain an important part of AIB’s overall distribution strategy and will be complemented by an enhanced online service. Customers in areas impacted by branch closures will be able to carry out their banking activities through new arrangements put in place in local post offices and through the provision of mobile banks in rural areas.”

“All customer account numbers, cheque books, direct debits, standing orders, ATM/Debit Cards and any credit facilities will remain the same. Customers in each area will be provided with details of their new branch, local An Post services and AIB Mobile Bank routes, where relevant, in advance of the closures and staff will be available to discuss all aspects of the changes.”

Overall 45 sub offices will be closed nationally with six branches amalgamating in 2012. A further 16 branches will close in 2013.

From late October, banking services in AIB through An Post will be expanded to allow AIB customers in affected areas to lodge cheques in designated Post Offices in the vicinity of closing branches. This is in addition to the current facility for lodging and withdrawing cash using AIB Debit/ATM cards and paying AIB Credit Card bills. These services will be available in Post Offices on the basis of six days a week.

Staff affected by the closures will be relocated to nearby branches. CEO David Duffy told RTÉ News at One that there would be no job losses from the restucturing.