ONE MORE THING: ALLIED IRISH Banks can hardly be accused of bowing to political pressure with its decision to close 67 of its 267 branches in the Republic.
The State-controlled bank is closing two outlets (Glin and Foynes) near a house owned by its main shareholder, Minister for Finance Michael Noonan, in Co Limerick.
Noonan was educated at St Patrick’s Secondary School in Glin so he might get an ear-bashing from his former classmates about the branch closure in the village.
Four branches are also slated to shut in Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s home patch in Co Mayo.
In addition, the branch in Schull, Co Cork, near the home of AIB chief executive David Duffy, is closing.
In breaking the bad news about the closures, AIB’s head of branch banking, Denis O’Callaghan, said the bank was “changing in response to customer needs”.
What a laugh. I’ve never met a person who wanted their local bank branch closed in favour of having to trek to a nearby town or village.
In some cases, AIB is relocating bank accounts across county boundaries.
For example, those with accounts in Rathmore, Co Kerry, will have to hotfoot it to the neighbouring town of Millstreet in Co Cork.
Those in Doon, Co Limerick, will have to make their way to Tipperary.
It’s a long way indeed.
“Be with AIB” . . . just somewhere else.
