Ballynahinch is the latest rural town to lose bank branch

Ballynahinch is the latest rural town to lose bank branch

10 July 2013

ANOTHER bank is to close one of its branches in Down District.

First Trust has announced that its Ballynahinch branch will close at the start of October. Staff who currently work in the market town will be either transferred to other branches or offered voluntary redundancy.

The decision will take the number of bank closures across the district to six within the space of a few years. The Northern Bank has closed branches in Newcastle, Castlewellan and Crossgar, while the Ulster Bank has closed branches in Ardglass and Saintfield.

First Trust said the closure of the Ballynahinch branch will not involve any compulsory redundancies with customers having their accounts automatically transferred to the nearest alternative branch which, for many, is expected to be Lisburn.

Mr. Des Moore, First Trust Bank’s head of customers and distribution, said like all retail organisations, it must constantly review its costs to move forward as a sustainable organisation.

He added: “As customer habits change and more choose to bank online, we have seen a marked decline in branch usage, making some locations unsustainable.”

Local politicians have criticised the First Trust decision and are concerned that the recent announcement by the Ulster Bank that it is to close more of its branches in the Province could impact locally.

Politicians fear Ulster Bank branches in rural towns and villages are under threat with suggestions that a dozen more could close in Northern Ireland with the loss of around 100 jobs.

Strangford MP Jim Shannon is seeking a meeting with First Trust officials to discuss the closure of the Ballynahinch branch.

He said while it is being argued that customers now use the internet to carry out a range of their banking needs, senior citizens and business owners prefer the face-to-face contact with bank officials.

“It is being suggested that First Trust customer accounts in Ballynahinch will be transferred to Lisburn. This will have a major impact on the elderly, particularly those who do not have their own transport,” added Mr. Shannon.

Rowallane councillor Billy Walker said he’s concerned about the Ulster Bank decision to close a dozen of its branches in Northern Ireland.

He added: “While I hope I am wrong, I fear this decision could result in one of two of the bank’s branches in Down District closing.

“As banks undergo major change with the aim of providing a more cost-effective and efficient organisation, it is the customers who are being penalised with the closure of their local branches as part of a cost-cutting exercise. That is unfair.”