Cash in on Georges Quay bank offices

Bank-related group Certus are pulling out of Cork city offices they had only moved into just 16 months ago, as part of a downsizing move, as it prepares to shed 30% of its workforce and shuts offices in Cork, Dublin, Belfast and Limerick.

Certus, formed out of Bank of Scotland in 2010, had moved from a prominent period Leeside building Dún Mhuire on Grand Parade to a new-build on Georges Quay in October 2013, taking 7,800 sq ft on the first and second floors for 60-70 staff.

Now, though, the company seeks almost 200 redundancies, or about one third of its staff, and is also off-loading 16,000 sq ft in 124 St Stephens Green, laid out for 180 staff, and with five years left to run on a lease.