Vital rural services are being taken away from local communities according to local politicians, who have hit out the latest branch closures by Bank of Ireland this week. Services were already at a minimum at the branches, but the decision has been labelled an 'attack on rural Ireland'. Bank of Ireland announced that its services in towns where banks are closed will be available in local post offices, which is seen as a positive move. Cllr John Francis Flynn, although critical of the decision by Bank of Ireland to close local branches, said that providing bank services in the local post office will benefit the community and ensure that customers have some service. TD Michael Healy-Rae has said the decision marks the end of 'another vital service' in rural Ireland.

Source: Irish Independent March 03, 2021 07:07 UTC