Ulster Unionist Finance Spokesperson, Steve Aiken MLA, has urged the Ulster Bank to for once actually put the impact of their actions on customers ahead of its efforts to maximise their bottom line. The South Antrim MLA was commenting after the Ulster Bank announced a new series of bank closures.

Steve Aiken OBE said:

“These latest series of closures from the Ulster Bank lays bare the falsehoods of the claims that they are a customer-focused bank. This is a decision which has obviously only been taken to enhance the bank’s bottom line.

“The Ulster Bank made a pre-tax profit of £58m in 2016. It’s parent Royal Bank of Scotland is still over 70% owned by the British taxpayer and yet this is the loyalty they show to long-standing customers.

“Whilst I acknowledge banking has changed over recent years, adapting to demands for improved digital services doesn’t have to happen in correlation with a major reduction in front-line customer facing services. Unfortunately, it is an excuse that has increasingly been used in an attempt to justify the closure of bank premises right across Northern Ireland.

“The reality is these closures will make everyday banking much more difficult, especially for local businesses and people who have limited access to online services.  The simple reality is that not everything can be done online. The Ulster Bank have also been plagued with repeated IT and online security glitches over recent years so I really question the wisdom of shutting these physical branches.

“Indeed NatWest, another RBS owned bank, has started opening new digitally-focussed branches in England because it recognises that customers who extensively use online services still demand physical branches to support them with their financial needs.

“I have already contacted the Ulster Bank requesting an urgent meeting and asking them to reconsider this decision.”