The Agriculture Minister has stressed the need for continued communication between Ulster Bank, its customers and staff in the coming weeks and months.
The bank s announcement that it is to leave the Irish market has been described as a major blow to rural communities with six branches currently serving the North West.
Minister Charlie McConalogue met with Ulster Bank Chief Executive Jane Howard yesterday where a number of issues were discussed.
He has committed to ensure that customers are protected during the bank s withdrawal of its services:
Minister McConalogue meets Ulster Bank CEO on bankâs Irish exit
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue T.D., today met with Ulster Bank Chief Executive Jane Howard following the bankâs decision to start exiting the Irish market.
Minister McConalogue said,
âI am pleased to have had the opportunity to engage with the CEO and her colleagues on the bankâs decision to exit the Irish market.
âThis is a difficult situation for many customers and I stressed the need for continued engagement and communication between Ulster Bank, its customers and its staff in the coming weeks and months. It is crucial that the immediate servicing of customers continues which Ms Howard confirmed would happen and she assured me that the bank has capacity to continue to lend to their customers. I also stressed the need to protect, where at all possible, the branch network footprint.