AIB’s recent decision to go ‘cashless’ in branches in Donegal and across the country is another decision that prioritises shareholders over the public, claims Deputy Thomas Pringle.
The banking giant announced this week that 70 branches across the country, including six in Donegal (Ballybofey, Ballyshannon, Buncrana, Carndonagh, Dungloe and Killybegs), will go cashless by the end of the year.
Just two Donegal branches, Letterkenny and Donegal Town, will continue to provide a full cash service.
Deputy Pringle said: “AIB clearly don’t care about the public who use it.
“What are local businesses in the area supposed to do?
“It’s all about the never-ending pursuit of profits rather than providing a service to the public.”
The deputy said he will write to the Minister for Finance as a shareholder to ask him to block the move.
He also noted that cash services will still be available through An Post.
“I think An Post and our credit unions should be providing more services because they look out for people,” he said.
The deputy has addressed the Dáil a number of times on the need for Government to expand the remit and autonomy of credit unions, calling them “the lifeline of many communities”.
