Tag Archives: Bank of Ireland

More than 20 local artists and craftspeople are coming together in Miltown Malbay to undertake an initiative which could help breathe new life into the town. The Design Bank will open this Saturday on the bottom floor of the former Bank of Ireland premises in the town on a three week trial period. Hopes are high that if successful, the initiative will become a year round venture for Miltown. The unique craft space will allow customers to interact with the craftspeople themselves, either watching them as they work, or speaking to them as they manage the shop. The Design Bank is the brainchild of local woman Aoife O’Malley, the owner of the former bank. “When people go in they will see crafts people sitting at benches doing their work. There will be three benches set up for the craftspeople and there will be three other crafts people on the floor, selling and chatting to customers,” said Aoife. “The space will …

BANK of Ireland has announced plans to invest €11.5 million across its nationwide branch network this year, with the Ennistymon branch listed as part of the upgrade plans.   The planned network investments include refurbishments and enhancements to the branch network, upgrading of branch services including ATMs in a number of locations, and ongoing maintenance works.   Additional works as part of the €11.5m investment will also include the installation of new external and internal ATMs in a range of branches, and the improvement of facilities for staff in over a dozen bank branches.  As part of this investment, Bank of Ireland also plans to install energy efficient LED lighting in each of its 169 branches this year, including all five of its Clare branches. This will achieve over 50% in energy savings from a reduction in lighting energy consumption, as the organisation looks to become more energy efficient and reduce its total energy consumption.   Commenting on the planned investment in its Clare branch network, Susan Russell, Director, Retail Ireland said, “Our branch network of 169 locations across Ireland, including the five branches we operate in Clare, is a very important part of how we serve our customers – whether that be for routine cash, cheque and coin transactions or more detailed conversations about loans, mortgages and pensions.  “That’s why we continually invest in this network, and …

THE importance of a strong voice to represent business in Ennis has been emphasised by newly elected Ennis Chamber president Colin Ryan. The Bank of Ireland branch manager was elected president at the Ennis Chamber AGM held on Monday, with Sheila Lynch, partner, Cashin Clancy Solicitors elected vice president. On election, Colin who last year served as vice president, thanked Darragh McAllister, outgoing president for his hard work and commitment. He stated, “Ennis Chamber has been fortunate to have had strong presidents during the Covid years, first Allen Flynn, owner Old Ground Hotel, followed by publican Darragh McAllister over the past year.” Outlining his focus for the year ahead, Colin said, “My mission is to build membership. Already we are back to pre-Covid numbers, and I’d like to grow membership further over the coming year.” He added, “It’s critical we have a strong voice to represent business in Ennis during these rapidly changing times and Ennis Chamber fulfils that role.” …

BANK of Ireland has issued a warning to the public advising extra caution around fraudulent text messages in circulation this week.  There has been a spike in ‘smishing’, where fraudsters send fake text messages, which appear to come from Bank of Ireland, and direct customers to fake websites imitating Bank of Ireland websites.  Since last month, the number of new ‘phishing’ websites detected by Bank of Ireland’s Fraud Prevention team has doubled, with an unprecedented increase in activity in the last week and up to 20 new fraudulent sites appearing per day. Bank of Ireland advice to customers in response to the current activity: Do not click on links or to respond to SMS text messages, which are designed to appear as if sent by the bank and look like originating from a genuine phone number. Bank of Ireland will never send you a text with a link to a website that asks you for your online banking login details …

BANK of Ireland has moved to reassure Clare’s Independent TD that its ATM in Kilkee will be retained after the closure of the branch. From September, the outlet will be one of three in this county – and 103 on the island – to be closed in a move which the bank said comes in response to online banking and cashless transactions. Deputy Michael McNamara questioned bank officials on Tuesday at the Joint Oireachtas Finance Committee. Gavin Kelly, CEO of Retail Ireland at Bank of Ireland confirmed that Kilkee is one of four locations in the Republic of Ireland that will retain their existing ATM. “There will be four locations that we are going to keep an ATM in the branch because there isn’t an alternative branch in the town, and Kilkee is one of those locations,” Mr Kelly said. “So, we are committed to maintaining the ATM in Kilkee for that reason.” In response to Deputy McNamara’s question about the …

A POSTMASTER and local councillor has accused Bank of Ireland of “piggybacking on the State,” in its deal which the bank says is designed to cushion the blow of branches closures in Miltown Malbay, Kilkee, Tulla and elsewhere. Last Monday, in tandem with announcing the shutting of over 100 branches, Bank of Ireland outlined a new deal to allow its customers to do their financial business in post offices. Councillor Shane Talty, who is postmaster in Ennistymon and Lahinch, described the planned closures as “regressive”. “There’s a report from consultants Grant Thornton recommending an annual €17 million Public Service Obligation (PSO) commitment to the post office network,” he said. “The bank is piggybacking on the State and the fact that it will ultimately have responsibility to support services. The bank is abandoning the community and the State will be left holding the post office network in its lap. The transaction fee to postmasters will not sustain the network.” Deputy Michael …

PLANS by Bank of Ireland to close three branches in Clare have been described as a “body blow”. The bank confirmed today (Monday, March 1) that it is to close its branches in Tulla, Miltown Malbay and Kilkee from the end of September. It comes as part of plans to close 103 across the Republic of Ireland and the North of Ireland. Fianna Fáil Senator Timmy Dooley, a Tulla resident, said, “The decision by Bank of Ireland to close three of its branches in Clare is extremely disappointing and represents a significant blow for communities in Tulla, Kilkee and Miltown Malbay. “Older people and the business community will be disproportionately impacted by the decision. For older people many prefer to go into their branch and deal with people rather than use online banking. “The retail, business and hospitality community will be very seriously impacted as they will have to travel much further now to lodge money in county towns – which in some …

TWO Clare towns have been named in the running to be crowned Ireland’s most enterprising town. Both Ennis and Kilrush are among the finalists announced for Bank of Ireland’s Begin Together Awards 2020. This year, the awards recognise business and community groups who have come together to support their local area as they start to rebuild and recover from the impact of COVID-19. Ennis is a finalist in the large towns category, with a population of over 14,000 and are facing Sligo in the finals. A spokesperson for Ennis Chamber said they are “delighted” to have made it to the finals adding the town is “up for the challenge”. Ennis is joined in the finals by Kilrush which is in the 2,001-4,000 population category facing Carndonagh, County Donegal. A total awards prize fund of over €200,000 is available to finalists to help reboot local economies across the island of Ireland. 21 awards are involved with the overall winner receiving €50,000 …