Disappointment at decision to close Moate AIB

The decision to close the AIB branch in Moate later this year has been met with widespread disappointment from the local community. Last Thursday, the bank announced a restructuring of its branch network as part of a cost reduction programme which will see the closure of 45 sub-offices, including Moate, and the amalgamation of six branches from October 12 next. A further 16 branches of the bank will close next year. The announcement leaves Moate with just one bank, the Bank of Ireland, in the town and AIB customers will have to travel to Athlone to conduct their business, although an enhanced arrangement with An Post was also announced by AIB. "Hand on heart, this business wouldn't be here but for AIB. It's a hell of a bolt for the town," local newsagent Paddy Casey, a customer of the bank since it first opened said. "I'm personally very disappointed that it is happening. To me, I cannot fathom how it is not making money and standing on its own two feet. It's a busy branch. If lots of places were as busy they wouldn't be shutting their doors." He also praised the AIB staff in Moate who have always been very supportive of businesses and community initiatives down through the years, and keen to get involved locally. The closure also means less competition for people in Moate, he added, stressing while online banking can do a lot of things, it doesn't suit everyone and the practical reality of physical transactions means you need a local bank with local knowledge. "Every little thing that brings people into town is a help to businesses. I will be sorry to see it go," he stated. "It's a disaster, there is no doubt it brings people into town," Annette Dalton, owner of The Pantry told the Westmeath Independent of the impending closure. "They are great customers coming in for their bread and their tarts after doing their banking. They are going to go to Mullingar and Athlone now and not come into Moate. The AIB staff are great customers as well" A customer of AIB herself, Annette said it's a shame to see it close considering all the money spent a number of years ago on the fine building, housing a very busy branch. "I bank with them as well, now where do you go to get your coin? I know you can lodge in the post office but you don't meet the AIB staff and just become a number. That's not what you want when you're in business," she complained. Local publican Terry Coughlan, who is also involved in the Moate Partnership group, said people in Moate are very disappointed with the decision, which comes on foot of a quite a number of other business closures in the town since Christmas. "Certainly, customers are going to miss it. It's going to be a loss to the town," he said, adding that it will be a big inconvenience for some customers who will have to travel to Athlone now to do their banking business. "It's a pity, it's tough times. It's hard to see where it will all end up. Small businesses are getting it very hard and the Gateway towns of Mullingar, Tullamore have a real battle on their hands, and Moate as a satellite of those is fighting to keep money in the area," he pointed out. "It's not nice to see people shutting their doors. The more business going on in the town the better," he feels, adding that despite the doom and gloom out there, people have to try and remain positive and spread the shop local message to keep the business in the area and the town alive. Meanwhile, local accountant Nick Linnane described the news as another body blow for Moate and it now means a trip to Athlone or to change banks which is hassle in itself for businesses and local people. Some banking business can be done in the post office but that is already a busy place, he said, adding that it is very disappointing to see an institution of the status of AIB disappearing from the Main street of the town. AIB has said the decision to close the Moate branch came as a result of changes in population and customer banking usage, as well as improvements in technology which have led to a fall in demand for traditional branch services. However, the bank stressed that banking services are available in 1,100 An Post outlets nationwide, and from late October, these services will be expanded to allow AIB customers in affected areas to lodge cheques in designated post offices in the vicinity of closing branches. This is in addition to the current facility for lodging and withdrawing cash using AIB Debit/ATM cards and paying AIB Credit Card bills. The decision by AIB to leave Moate is more bad news for the town on foot of a number of businesses closing their doors over the last few months according to Cllr Tom Allen. "It's a disaster for any town but especially for one like Moate which is depending on every little bit it can get. I'm surprised and disappointed because it takes in a large area, including Rosemount, Castledaly and Ballycumber. It's not good for the town," the Fianna Fáil public representative pointed out in the aftermath of the closure announcement. "It will probably mean the loss of jobs as well or people having to move to Athlone and the loss of spin-offs associated with people coming to the town to do their banking. I'm sure a lot of people will be moving to Bank of Ireland for handiness sake because people in business need a local bank," he stressed, saying that for older people coming to the AIB in Athlone won't suit a lot of them because it is not the most user friendly in terms of parking. In a statement last week, AIB pointed out that customers have been moving away from traditional methods of banking with a large increase in the use of phone and online banking. Nine out of ten transactions are now conducted away from branch counters, they stressed, and in this environment, it is not feasible to maintain such an extensive retail network of branches. Staff at locations due for closure will relocate to nearby AIB branches with the Moate employees expected to come into Athlone.