Two Halifax branches to close in June with loss of 14 jobs in Meath

Bank of Scotland (Ireland) has announced that its Halifax branch in Ashbourne will close on 18th June, while the Navan branch will close on 23rd June. Last month, Bank of Scotland announced that it was to close its retail branch network and call centre with the loss of 750 jobs throughout the bank. The closure of the Halifax branches in Navan and Ashbourne will result in the loss of 14 jobs altogether in a further blow to the county which has seen its unemployment rate increase by more than 200 per cent in the last two years. The Ashbourne branch of Halifax, located at Killegland Street in Ashbourne Town Centre, will close on Friday 18th June, while the Navan branch, on Trimgate Street, will close on Wednesday, 23rd June. All 44 Halifax branches are due to close over two phases towards the end of June this year and, to coincide with the first branch closure date, the final date for existing customers to close their accounts has been extended to 18th June 2010. In a statement, the bank has said it will shortly begin writing to each Halifax and Bank of Scotland (Ireland) intermediary customer detailing how the closure of these businesses will affect their account and the actions and options available to them. These letters will be sent on a phased basis over the next month and all letters will be posted by 14th April 2010. The bank has said that the phasing will allow the bank to most effectively manage customer queries and account closures and make the process as smooth as possible for customers. For Halifax customers wishing to speed up the process of account closure, the bank recommends that customers visit their local branch and speak to a branch colleague who will talk them through exactly what needs to be done. Alternatively, customers can visit the website, www.halifax.ie