Ulster Bank to close Jordanstown branch
Stewart Dickson MLA
THE Ulster Bank has announced it is to close its Jordanstown branch in June this year.
The bank has said there will be no jobs lost in the move and customers of the branch, which is based in the University of Ulster’s Jordanstown campus, will be transferred to the Carrick office.
At the beginning of the year the bank had announced it was reviewing its entire branch network.
It’s thought the measure had to be taken following the huge IT problem which affected large numbers of the company’s customers last year.
It’s thought the bank has had to set aside around £80million in compensation following the error which caused massive disruption.
A statement from the Ulster Bank said: “Ulster Bank confirms that Jordanstown branch is closing in June 2013, with customers being transferred to Carrickfergus branch. We will also be writing directly to customers of Jordanstown branch in the coming weeks.
“There will be no additional job losses as a result of this announcement. We continue to communicate directly with our staff and their representatives on these matters.”
Alliance Party East Antrim MLA, Stewart Dickson, has expressed concern at the closure of the branch.
Mr Dickson said that he is worried about the impact on residents and students in Jordanstown, whose accounts will be transferred to Carrickfergus.
He said: “The reality is that many customers still value branch banking and will now have extra expenditure travelling to Carrickfergus to visit their nearest Ulster Bank. This is particularly concerning for students and others on low incomes.
“I have received assurance from Ulster Bank that customers will be contacted over the coming weeks to notify them of relocations and to identify alternative methods of accessing their accounts.
“Ulster Bank must ensure that online and phone banking systems are accessible to all and that its customers are aware of the capabilities of those systems to avoid the costs and inconvenience associated with unnecessary trips to the Carrickfergus.”
The Ulster Bank is the second financial institution to close a branch in the Newtownabbey area after the Danske Bank closed its Glengormley branch late last year.
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Weather for Newtownabbey
Wednesday 22 May 2013
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