Bank declines opportunity to leave social legacy in athboy

Cllr David Gilroy has expressed his disappointment at Ulster Bank's decision to decline to leave a community legacy as it closes its doors in Athboy.

On Friday 20th March, the bank will cease trading after more than 100 years in the town. The RBS-owned financial institution will also close its premises in Ashbourne this month.

In January, members of the local community in Athboy gathered to discuss the impending closure of the Ulster Bank branch in the town, but it was acknowledged at the time that any representations were unlikely to sway senior management in the UK-owned institution.

In recent weeks, the bank was requested to make a social investment in the community similar to the sponsorship offered by Athboy Credit Union to the Blue Jean County Queen Festival, an offer it declined.

'Obviously, these decisions are made at regional or national level, and perhaps Athboy and towns like it no longer offer enough incentive for banks to act in a responsible way to their loyal customers,' said Cllr Gilroy.

According to the independent county councillor, social legacies offer much more than the investment value in terms of what can be achieved by community groups who receive such support.

'Offering support to projects that have broad commuity appeal not only supports the people of an area, it also sends the right sort of message regarding the social responsibility of large financial institutions,' he said.

Cllr Gilroy, who described Ulster Bank's behaviour as 'disgraceful', added: 'Even though the people of the area have been loyal Ulster Bank customers for over 100 years, once the doors close it will be as if the bank never was in the town at all.'

While Meath is losing two branches in this latest round of restructuring, further branch closures in the county are not foreseen in 2015, according to Ulster Bank.

Attempts to contact Ulster Bank prior to closing for press were unsuccessful.