BOI to shut branches in UK

BANK of IRELAND will close a significant number of Bristol and West’s 132 branches under a massive restructuring plan for its ailing mortgage business in the UK, it was reported yesterday.

Bristol and West, which comes under the wing of Bank of Ireland UK Financial Services, employs around 2,800 staff in Britain. Bank of Ireland generates around a quarter of its profits from operations in the UK.

It’s understood the closures will be overseen by new Bristol and West chief executive Roy Keenan.