Removal of Sandymount cash banking services unacceptable, says Bacik

Labour Party Leader and TD for Dublin Bay South, Ivana Bacik, has hit out at the decision by AIB to withdraw cash and banking services in Sandymount.

Deputy Bacik was speaking after AIB announced that it was removing cash services from 70 branches nationwide.

“This decision, taken by executives of a majority State-owned bank, is one in a series of attacks by attrition on in-person public services and relationship banking in Dublin Bay South,” Bacik said.

““This decision is particularly alarming at a time when hundreds of thousands of Ulster Bank and KBC customers are looking for a new home for their accounts, and in the middle of a government-led review into the future of retail banking.

“Decisions like this impact most on vulnerable customers, especially those who may not be comfortable doing transactions digitally. This is compounded by the closure of Sandymount post office four years ago,” she said.

Deputy Bacik says that “serious consideration” must be given to a “pause or moratorium on branch closures” until a review can be carried out.

“I echo calls from my colleague Ged Nash TD who has said that the Central Bank should require the carrying out of full community impact assessments before banks are allowed to engage in significant changes to their branch networks.

“Unfortunately, this closure represents a trend towards the complete removal of in-person public services.

“The advent of the internet has ushered in an era of convenience for those who have the digital literacy to benefit from it.

“For the rest of the population, it has proven a disempowering and isolating occurrence.

“This is taking place throughout the constituency, such as with the removal of in-person Citizens’ Information Services in Rathmines and Kimmage.

“Our communities are calling out for help to halt the removal of in-person services and I am calling on the Government and AIB to answer those calls.”