All but one of the 25 Ulster Bank branches that closed down last month have been reopened under the management of Permanent TSB, with the remaining location in Westport due to reopen on 20 February.
Ownership of the branches transferred to PTSB as part of its €6.2bn acquisition of Ulster Bank's performing non-tracker mortgages, its micro SME business and its Lombard asset finance business.
The lender has spent €25m on refurbishing the locations, installing new ATMs and IT equipment as well as new signage and displays.
PTSB also plans to conduct additional refurbishment work at four branches (Buncrana, Ballyjamesduff, Enniscorthy and Trim), which will result in those branches being closed for two to three weeks in the coming months.
All branches will offer cash services and will be staffed by former Ulster Bank employees who worked there before their closure. More than 125 former Ulster Bank staff members have moved to PTSB as part of the branch acquisition.
In Association with
“This is a proud moment for Permanent TSB and all our colleagues. We are delighted to open branches in 25 communities that would otherwise have lost a bank branch from Ulster Bank’s closure," said Patrick Farrell, director of retail banking at PTSB.
"We are offering customers in these communities a very warm welcome, great service and, most importantly, new competition and choice in meeting their personal and business banking needs.
"Former Ulster Bank customers can continue to do business in the same building as before, with the same people as before, but we are here to serve the whole community and would encourage everyone to drop in and see for themselves what we offer.
"Our €25m branch investment programme is a real statement of intent from Permanent TSB. We are committed to serving these communities and supporting local customers.”
The branches reopening on Wednesday are located in Ballyjamesduff, Ballyconnell, Shannon, Wilton, Ballybofey, Buncrana, Donegal Town, Killybegs, Blackrock, Blanchardstown, Lucan, Ranelagh, Dún Laoghaire, Swords, Athenry, Eyre Square, Tuam, Celbridge, Kilcock, Ardee, Belmullet, Trim, Thurles, and Enniscorthy.
The remaining 63 Ulster Bank branches are due to close on 21 April, three weeks after they cease processing transactions.
Ulster Bank branch staff will spend the final weeks before closure helping customers to close their accounts and finding alternative banking services providers.
Photo: (l-r) Permanent TSB head of retail distribution Eddie Kearney, territory sales manager Chris Costello, and retail banking director Patrick Farrell.
