BoI hopes to cash in on rival’s departure

Bank of Ireland looks set to poach business from rivals AIB after the latter decided to close its branches on a West Cork peninsula.

People living on the Mizen peninsula say they feel AIB has abandoned them after its announcement to shut down branches in Ballydehob and Schull.

At the weekend, more than 200 angry locals from different communities met in Schull Parish Hall to discuss the closures which will come into effect in October.

Yesterday, Linda Morgan, the chairperson of Schull and& District Community Council which organised the meeting, said she had received an approach from Bank of Ireland officials who were “sympathetic to our cause”.

She said it was hoped community representatives would meet with Bank of Ireland officials before the end of this week to discuss what they could offer the peninsula.

AIB has said it will bring in a mobile banking service to help customers but locals say the offer is not good enough.

“Anybody with a working knowledge of the Mizen peninsula knows AIB’s plans won’t work,” Ms Morgan said. “Mobile banking is just a token gesture. We want to encourage more people to come and live in the area but there will be an exodus of people, especially the elderly, if services are continually cut.”

AIB officials are also to meet with community groups in an effort to allay their fears, but Ms Morgan said the bank would have to do a lot more to convince people.

AIB has also insisted An Post offices in both villages would be able to take over all transactions and had longer opening hours than its own branches.

“A lot will depend on what AIB say to us and what Bank of Ireland has to offer.

“People feel let down by AIB. I would personally think about transferring to Bank of Ireland and I think there are a lot of people in the same frame of mind,” Ms Morgan said.

Cllr Danny Crowley (FF) said: “I do hope that a genuine call will be made to Government to reconsider the decision by AIB. The majority shareholder, Minister Michael Noonan, should intervene and ensure the real needs and concerns of a rural population will be addressed,” the Beara-based councillor said.

Local senator Denis O’Donovan echoed his party colleague’s concern. “There has to be political goodwill from all sides, otherwise communities on the peninsula will have an uphill battle trying to get AIB to change its mind.”

Community council groups in the peninsula have set up an online petition in protest against AIB’s plans.

It is expected they will hold further meetings in the coming weeks as they ratchet up their campaign.