Ulster Bank to set six-month deadlines for a million customers to switch and close accounts

The letters mark an acceleration of plans by Ulster to withdraw from the Republic

A woman walks past the Ulster Bank headquarters in Dublin. File Picture: PA

Ulster Bank plans to start writing soon to 1 million customers setting them deadlines of six months to switch and close their current and deposit accounts with the lender. 

The letters will be sent on a rolling basis to avoid establishing a cliff edge because the current switching code overseen by the Central Bank will face unprecedented volumes for which it wasn't designed.