Councillor for Palmerstown-Fonthill, Shane Moynihan, has expressed disappointment with the decision by Bank of Ireland to close a branch in Ballyfermot, especially in light of the expected closure of the Ulster Bank branch in Palmerstown.
Cllr Moynihan said: “Bank of Ireland’s decision is a hammer blow to many communities around the country but especially so in light of the current pandemic. Access to a bank branch is an important lifeline for many in our community, and to close an important branch such as Ballyfermot is a backward move This is a move that will hit older and more vulnerable customers particularly hard as they’re more likely to require face to face banking services .”
The decision by Bank of Ireland to close the Ballyfermot branch, which is used frequently by residents in Palmerstown and North Clondalkin follows the decision by Ulster Bank to pull out of the Irish market, thus closing its branches in Palmerstown and Lucan. The severely limits the banking options available to residents in Palmerstown in particular. Cllr Moynihan added “Attention now needs to turn to empowering our local credit unions and post office network to provide more choice for our consumers, especially those older members of our community who may not be as comfortable with online technology.”
