Politicians in meeting with officials over bank closure

Politicians in meeting with officials over bank closure

6 March 2024

THE closure of the Danske Bank branch in Saintfield this summer was discussed with some of its senior officials last week.

The Main Street branch closes for the final time on June 7 and while the cash dispensing machine is also set to be removed, talks are ongoing with a private company in a bid to have it retained.

Danske’s decision leaves Saintfield with no bank for the first time in almost 160 years and last week Strangford MLAs Michelle McIlveen and Harry Harvey and Rowallane councillor Callum Bowsie met with officials to highlight the need for banking services in the town.

News of the Saintfield branch closure came after Ulster Bank announced that its branches in Downpatrick and Ballynahinch will close this year.

Defending its closure decision, Danske said people are changing how they do their banking with many customers banking with the organisation digitally, on the phone or in the Post Office.

Danske Bank’s managing director of personal banking, Aisling Press, said the world is

changing and how people choose to do their banking is also changing.

“Many of our customers are now using alternative ways to bank with us, like through our digital solutions, banking on the phone or in the Post Office,” she said.

Mrs Press revealed that over the past two years, Danske had seen a 25% increase in customer logins to the bank’s digital services.

She said the bank’s decision to close the Saintfield branch wasn’t an easy one, with Danske considering “lots of factors including the customer impact of the closure and alternative services nearby.”

The bank said it had to make “difficult decisions” to shut branches that are used less than others.

Cllr Bowsie said politicians pressed for the retention of the Saintfield branch during last week’s face-to-face meeting.

He said many people rely on their local branch, particularly those who don’t or can’t use digital banking and aren’t comfortable using the Post Office to do their banking. 

“Banks also play an important social role in the life of the community and brings people onto the Main Street.

We also highlighted the necessity of an ATM in the centre of the town to support local trade,” he said.

Cllr Bowsie said while the bank is selling the building which is home to its Saintfield branch, politicians are already working with a private company to see whether a cash machine can be retained.

“Danske has assured us there will be no job losses with the closure and agreed to work with us to explore the possibility for a banking hub for the area.” he confirmed.

Cllr Bowsie said politicians are pleased that plans are underway for a s-called banking hub in Comber.

Last month, the FSB’s Northern Ireland policy chairman, Alan Lowry, said bank closures further erode access to banking facilities in towns and will be a blow to businesses and consumers.

“Banks used to be right at the centre of bustling communities across Northern Ireland but, unfortunately, many are a banking wasteland as banks use the cover of ‘changing customer behaviour’ to reinforce profit margins,” he said.

“It is important to note that not only does this announcement include the closure of branches, but also cash machines, further limiting access to cash. This has been repeated all too often across Northern Ireland and beyond.”