Ulster Bank to close nine branches across Northern Ireland

Ulster Bank has said it will close nine branches across Northern Ireland.

They are in Holywood, Warrenpoint, Dunmurry, Antrim, Ballymoney, Larne, Comber, Maghera and Clogher. The branches will start to close in September through to mid-October.

A spokesperson for Ulster Bank says more customers are moving to online and mobile banking.

He also said all closing branches are within one mile of a free-to-use cash machine.

It follows an announcement from Danske Bank last week that its branches in Lurgan, Cookstown, Kilkeel and Fivemiletown will also close in September.

That will reduce the number of Danske Bank branches in Northern Ireland to 28, after it previously closed four branches in October last year.

Ulster Bank said most of its customers are shifting to mobile and online banking, with about half of their customers banking entirely digitally.

"We understand and recognise that digital solutions aren't right for everyone or every situation, and that when we close branches we have to make sure that no-one is left behind," the bank said.

"We take our responsibility seriously to support the people who face challenges in moving online, so we are investing to provide them with support and alternatives that work for them."

"Historically Warrenpoint had three of the four main banks based in the town plus the Credit Union," said Mark Kelly of Warrenpoint Chamber of Commerce.

"However we are going to be left with only the Credit Union as the one financial institution based in Warrenpoint."

Many people in rural communities are frustrated.

Irene Boyd told BBC News NI the closure in Fivemiletown is "inconvenient for everyone and many people just don't know how to do internet banking and we don't have good connectivity either".

It is a similar story in nearby Clogher.

"We were always promised due to the cattle market in the town that that would have been a reason for the bank to stay open, so we are all shocked that this day has come," said Stephen Keyes.

"I'm very sad to hear it's closing as my next nearest bank is Lisnaskea so it's more travel and, with the cost of fuel, also more expensive unfortunately," added Baskin Hassard.

In February 2021, Ulster Bank's parent company, NatWest, announced it would close down its Republic of Ireland business over the next few years.

Ulster Bank was the third largest bank in the Republic of Ireland but had struggled to be profitable.

AIB and Bank of Ireland have also closed a significant number of branches across Northern Ireland in recent years.