Sinn Féin councillor Aidan Mathers has said that the latest round of bank closures across the north will bring great concern to local residents.
The Newry City councillor said:
News that Ulster Bank will be closing 10 of its branches, resulting in the loss of 21 jobs and that Barclays will be closing their branch in Newry is a bitter blow for staff and families.
While the trend is toward increasing digital banking, for some customers this is not convenient or possible.
“For rural communities, important services are disappearing.
“For many, including local people, businesses and communities access to cash and a local bank is crucial.
“I am bringing a motion to the December full council meeting, calling on the council to invite the Financial Service Union to make a presentation to us on their campaign, which calls on Ulster Bank to reverse these closures.
“I will also be calling for the council to write to the main bank providers, calling on them to put more ATMs in place that will dispense Euros as there is currently only one of these in the city which causes great frustration to the many cross border workers locally.
“Local bank branches provide vital services to local communities, particularly in rural areas and it’s imperative that every step is taken to maintain these services for local families, communities and businesses.”
CRÍOCH/ENDS
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