SF Urge Santander To Reconsider Antrim Branch Closure

A Sinn Fein MLA is urging commercial banking group Santander to rethink plans to shut its Antrim High Street branch at the end of May.

Declan Kearney's comments follow the company's announcement of a UK-wide reshuffle which will see 140 stores closed, as a response to shifts in consumer demand.

The elected representative hopes to engage with senior management on the issue in the coming weeks.

Two other Northern Ireland branches will also shut their doors, one on Belfast's Newtownards Road and another in Ballymoney.

Around 1,200 jobs are at risk in the move described by the south Antrim MLA as a "bitter blow to customers".

"This news comes in the wake of the loss of other bank branches in Antrim town over recent times including Bank of Ireland and First Trust Bank. Indeed it is known that many customers of those banks moved to Santander in the hope of retaining long term local banking services, only to be let down again.

"Santander's notification to customers appears to suggest that they will be adequately served by 'alternative local banking services', including other banks on the High Street and the Post Office. However, whilst these alternatives may allow for the deposit and withdrawal of cash, they do not cover the full range of banking services which many people rely upon.

"I am also concerned about the potential impact that the loss of the Santander branch will have on Antrim town centre. This closure can only contribute to an already declining footfall in the High Street and Castle Mall, serving to further undermine ongoing efforts to revitalise the town centre.

"I will be seeking an urgent meeting with Santander's senior management team and asking them to rethink their branch network review in respect of the Antrim High Street branch."

Santander is consulting unions and will seek to find new roles for the colleagues affected and hopes to redeploy around a third to other areas of the company.

The company will retain a nationwide network of 614 stores following the changes, 100 of which will be refurbished over the next two years in a £55 million investment.

The decision to restructure was a response to changing customer needs, with many opting to do most of their banking online nowadays.

According to the firm, the number of transactions carried out in-house has fallen by 23% over the past three years, while online banking use has grown by 99% over the same period.

Susan Allen, Head of Retail and Business Banking said: "The way our customers are choosing to bank with us has changed dramatically in recent years, with more and more customers using online and mobile channels. As a result, we have had to take some very difficult decisions over our less visited branches, and those where we have other branches in close proximity.

"We will support customers of closing branches to find alternative ways to bank with us that best suit their individual needs. We are also working alongside our unions to support colleagues through these changes and to find alternative roles for those impacted wherever possible."



(JG/CM)