Challenges seen in Leitrim town as banking services shrink

Sligo-Leitrim TD Frank Feighan recently wrote a letter to AIB, in which he raised multiple concerns about the lack of banking services in Manorhamilton.

Manorhamilton, Leitrim's second-largest town, once boasted three banks. However, Ulster Bank closed in 2014, followed by Bank of Ireland five years later. Now, the north Leitrim town is left with only one AIB branch, which does not offer cash desk services.

Frustrations have been mounting in Manorhamilton due to the lack of banking services. Local solicitor and Manorhamilton Chamber member Conor Maguire, who previously availed of the Bank of Ireland branch, described the significant changes and challenges he now faces in his practice.

"I'm a solicitor here for the last 25 years and there's the world of Manorhamilton before Bank of Ireland left and the world of Manorhamilton after Bank of Ireland left. That's how it changed for me in my practise," Mr Maguire explained.

"The lack of having a branch which is next door to me is a huge inconvenience, because invariably during the week an issue arises with banking and you have to ring a call centre in Dublin.

"The amount of time that's wasted is shocking. Especially when it comes to having cheques cleared, you can't do that online you have to do it through the branch.

"It's so time consuming. You have to ring headquarters in Dublin and then you pick the number of the department you want and then you wait in the queue. It's not the same as always, there's no camaraderie between colleagues that was there before when you had a physical presence in the branch, so that's a huge minus."

Mr. Maguire explained that when he receives certain cheques, he must take them to the post office. There, the cheques are bagged and sent to the Sligo branch, which processes them the following day.

"More often than not, when you get a cheque, it needs to be dealt with. You can't wait for the post. We're waiting on funds to be released and it takes five days for a cheque to clear," he said.

"Usually, I just have to drive to Sligo with it but prior to that, I just went in next door to the bank.

"It's not as common now but sometimes I'd drive to Sligo and then stand in the queue for longer than it would've taken me to leave the office and get there, as there's only one cash desk in there.

"I'd like to see sufficient resources at the Bank of Ireland Sligo branch, what would've taken me five minutes in the old days can now take two hours. 

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"I have to say the staff in there are absolutely fabulous," Mr Maguire urged. "This is a criticism of Bank of Ireland as opposed to the staff."

"I had the option of switching to AIB as there's still a presence in town but they have no cash desk so it's the same difference, and the hassle of changing banks for me would be too much too," he remarked.

The lack of banking services clearly impacts Mr. Maguire's practice, but it also affects his clients.

"For example, if a newly married couple were buying a house as first time buyers its a completely foreign, and the fact that there's only one mortgage provider in Manorhamilton means that the ability of a young couple to shop around is simply short circled.

"I have to compliment Antoinette O'Donnell and the staff in AIB, they're excellent when it comes to their mortgage team. But with BOI and Ulster Bank gone, the lack of choice is hard sought."

The situation in Manorhamilton highlights a broader issue which is affecting many rural communities across Ireland. The withdrawal of major banks has left towns like Manorhamilton grappling with reduced services and limited options.

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"There was a huge loyalty given by the people of north Leitrim to the banking institutions in general, and they pulled out. I thought that was a huge act of disloyalty in a way," Mr Maguire reflected.