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23/02/2017
First Trust To Close 15 Branches In NI
Over 100 jobs are at risk after First Trust Bank confirmed it is to close 15 branches in Northern Ireland.
First Trust, which is owned by AIB in Dublin, said the closures had been a "difficult decision".
Head of First Trust Bank, Des Moore, said the bank has seen a 40% decline in branch usage since 2010.
Five new business centres are to be created in the Ballymena, Dungannon, Enniskillen, L'Derry and Newry branches.
General Secretary of the Financial Services Union, Larry Broderick, described the branch closures as "a serious blow for staff, customers and the Northern Ireland economy".
He said: "While opposing the scale of the closures, the Financial Services Union, will work hard over the coming months to ensure that commitments made to staff are upheld and that staff can continue to contribute to the bank and the wider Northern Ireland economy. In particular, we will ensure that any staff departures will be on a voluntary basis. This is a position that the union has fought hard to achieve and is in place until 2019."
Sinn Féin's Sinéad Ennis said: "News that First Trust bank is planning to close half of its branches across the north will come as a shock to many.
"Bank branches provide a key service in many local communities for both small businesses and personal banking customers.
"The loss of these branches will be particularly keenly felt in rural areas with people having to travel longer distances to access a bank.
"The news will also come as a blow to bank staff who will be facing an uncertain future following this announcement."
(CD)
First Trust, which is owned by AIB in Dublin, said the closures had been a "difficult decision".
Head of First Trust Bank, Des Moore, said the bank has seen a 40% decline in branch usage since 2010.
Five new business centres are to be created in the Ballymena, Dungannon, Enniskillen, L'Derry and Newry branches.
General Secretary of the Financial Services Union, Larry Broderick, described the branch closures as "a serious blow for staff, customers and the Northern Ireland economy".
He said: "While opposing the scale of the closures, the Financial Services Union, will work hard over the coming months to ensure that commitments made to staff are upheld and that staff can continue to contribute to the bank and the wider Northern Ireland economy. In particular, we will ensure that any staff departures will be on a voluntary basis. This is a position that the union has fought hard to achieve and is in place until 2019."
Sinn Féin's Sinéad Ennis said: "News that First Trust bank is planning to close half of its branches across the north will come as a shock to many.
"Bank branches provide a key service in many local communities for both small businesses and personal banking customers.
"The loss of these branches will be particularly keenly felt in rural areas with people having to travel longer distances to access a bank.
"The news will also come as a blow to bank staff who will be facing an uncertain future following this announcement."
(CD)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:Scattered showers of rain, sleet and, over hills, snow in the morning with sunny spells, the best of these in the south. The showers dying out this afternoon with increasing amounts of sunshine. Occasionally fresh westerly or northwesterly winds easing. Maximum temperature 6 °C.Tonight:Clear start with a fairly widespread frost developing. Increasing cloud brings occasionally heavy rain overnight, preceded, especially over western hills, briefly by snow. Occasional southeasterly gales, severe near coasts, developing. Minimum temperature -2 °C.
