Ulster Bank is to close two of its branches in County Derry.
The Draperstown branch will close on June 12 next year while the Dungiven branch is earmarked for closure on June 19.
In a statement released this afternoon, a spokesperson for Ulster Bank blamed the proposed closures on a drop in the number of branch visits.
"We provide our customers with more ways to bank than ever before – customers can choose from a range of digital, face-to-face and local options. The way people bank with us has changed radically over the last few years: since 2014, the number of customers using branches across the UK has fallen by 40%. During the same period mobile transactions have increased by 73%," said the spokesperson.
"We are communicating with our customers affected by the closure and proactively contacting vulnerable customers and regular branch users. We have extended the time between announcing our decision and the branch closure to six months; this has been done so that we can ensure our customers have enough time to consider the right banking options for them and to give us time to support them one-to-one during the transition.
"We are committed to ensuring our customers and communities are able to continue accessing quality banking services. As part of this, our new Community Banker provides customers with personal assistance and support to access our non-cash services, as well as help with achieving their financial plans and goals – replicating many of the services available in our branches. Our Community Bankers will get to know the local community, engage with local groups and provide training and education on issues such as fraud and scams protection in the local area.
"We know that not all of our customers are comfortable or familiar with using online or mobile banking, so we have created a new specialist taskforce of Ulster Bank TechXperts who will be dedicated to supporting our customers with training and support with digital skills until the branch closes.
"We are following the Access to Banking Standard and we have made our decision after careful consideration of a wide range of factors including changes in customer usage of the branch over a long period of time; how often customers are using the branch and the types of transactions they undertake; the number of customers who only bank via the branch; and the other ways our customers can bank locally.
"We provide a range of alternative ways to bank, tailored to the needs of our customers and reflective of the way they live their lives."
These include:
- Online and mobile: we are committed to educating customers on how to use these channels securely and simply.
- Telephony: our customers can contact us over the phone, via web-chat and social media. Our contact centres are open 24/7 and teams are trained to answer almost every query at first point of contact. Services available over the phone range from transfers and payments to opening new accounts, financial reviews and support with using digital banking.
- Post Office: We have a national agreement with the Post Office to provide our customers with a range of banking services. Customers can pay money in, take money out, check balances and business customers can get coinage. The closest Post Office is Draperstown, 0.2 miles away from the branch; there are 2 Post Offices within 3 miles of the branch.
- ATMs: There are a number of free to use cash machines in your area. Details of these can be found at link.co.uk/atm-locator or speaking to a member of staff.
- TechXpert: Our experts will offer training and support with digital skills; they will serve the branch until it closes and work in addition to our branch staff
- Other Branches: Our nearest branches, Ulster Bank Maghera, is 6.5 miles away and Limavady, is 9.9 miles away.
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