A Sligo councillor is to bring a motion before the county council in two weeks time calling on the Minister for Finance to ensure the Bank of Ireland branch in the town of Ballymote in South Sligo provides a five-day service.
Sinn Fein Councillor Thomas Healy is making the call due to the expected closure of the Ulster Bank branch in the town.
The Bank of Ireland branch in Ballymote currently provides a three-day service.
Cllr Healy says the Irish taxpayer has helped bail out Bank of Ireland and he therefore feels it should provided a service that is required in places like Ballymote.
A number of other councillors, including Fianna Fail’s Keith Henry and Independent Margaret Gormley also had motions before Sligo County Council this week calling for the Ulster Bank to remain open.
Fine Gael’s Dara Mulvey proposed calling on Ulster Bank to provide training, counselling and workshops for loyal customers like business owners, farmers and householders who will now be forced to switch to online banking.
Cllr Healy says if Ulster Bank in Ballymote closes as expected, customers should be able to get an adequate service from Bank of Ireland in which, he says, the Irish public now have an interest.
