TWO important events for dairy farmers will take place next week as the joint winners of the ACCBank EBI dairy discussion group competition host dairy open days in Cork and Laois.

THE €10,000 first prize in the Economic Breeding Index Discussion Group Competition, which promotes better breeding on dairy farms, was jointly won this year by two groups from the midlands and the south-west.

ULSTER BANK has taken control of 15.9% of the shares in Greencore, the Irish food company worth €41 million at today’s prices.

ACCBank is to close 16 branches, resulting in the loss of 200 jobs, it was announced today.

ACCBank is to close seven branches and withdraw all cash services from remaining branches from January, the bank said today.

Following widespread comment and reaction to the Government’s move today to guarantee the deposits and loans of six Irish financial institutions, ACCBank have moved to reassure their customers over the safety of their money.

IT’S all hands on deck to ensure everything is shipshape for Ireland’s largest sailing regatta next week.

“I WAS strangled in Hawaii in late March 1974, on my way to Vietnam. My assailant was a former Green Beret I was interviewing in my hotel room. He left me for dead.”

PRE-TAX profit at ACCBank fell 36% to €43 million last year.

Punjabi, third in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, ran out a taking winner of the ACCBank-sponsored version at Punchestown.

Pat Hughes is planning a crack at the Punchestown Festival with Farmer Brown following his creditable run in the Champion Hurdle.

ACC BANK were yesterday unveiled as sponsors of Cork Week, Ireland’s largest International Sailing Regatta at Royal Cork Yacht Club Crosshaven (July 12-18).

ACCBank, which is part of the Rabobank Group, announced its chief executive Fergus Murphy has resigned his position with immediate effect to become president of Shelbourne Developments, the Irish property company developing the Chicago Spire project.

ACCBank, a wholly owned subsidiary of Dutch-owned Rabobank, has announced pre-tax profits of €67.3 million for last year against €32.4m in 2005.

ACCBank has appointed former Rabobank Ireland MD Fergus Murphy as chief executive, effective from April 10. Mr Murphy is currently head of Asia for Rabobank.

AFTER 11 years, seven as chief executive, Colm Darling yesterday announced his intention to leave ACCBank plc.

Punchestown Festival’s Grade One Champion Hurdle will have a new sponsor for next year’s renewal on April 28 when ACCBank take over as the backers of the €180,000 contest.

ACCBank today launched it latest bond in its SolidWorld Bond Series, SolidWorld Bond 7.

A SPECIAL training conference is being run by Teagasc for farmers, horticulturists, foresters and agri-business companies who give work experience to upwards of 1,000 students taking part in Teagasc training programmes each year.

ACCBank, the former State-owned farmers’ bank, generated profit before tax and extraordinary items of €35.9 million for the year to December 31, 2003.

Rabobank Group has agreed to acquire Ag Services (AG) of America Inc in a bid valuing the US company at $47m (€40.5m).

ACCBank has announced today that it is reducing interest rates by 0.5% in line with last week’s reduction by the European Central Bank.