AIB could close up to 90 branches, many in rural areas, as part of a restructuring programme which will see An Post delivering traditional banking services to the lender’s customers.

AIB outlined a complete reorganisation of its structures in a new strategy document released internally to staff yesterday and seen by the Irish Examiner.

WITH MBNA yesterday announcing the latest job losses in the finance sector, the country’s main finance union IBOA has predicted that a further 4,000 jobs could go from banking in only the next six months.

There is concern for the future of hundreds of bank staff at AIB's subsidaries in the North and the UK.

Ian Guider