Meeting to discuss Moynalty Credit Union office closure

The Moynalty Credit Union office is to close after 25 years. Link Credit Union, which was formed by the merging of Moynalty, Kingscourt and Baileboro Credit Unions in 2015, wrote to its Moynalty members on Friday  to inform them of the closure.
“The Board of Directors has taken the difficult decision to close its branch officer in Moynalty with effect from 25th April 2020,” the letter reads. 
“For some time now, income from the Moynalty Office has not been sufficient to cover its operating costs".
The closure has dismayed  members in Moynalty who don't use the online credit union’s online facilities.
“The generation who set up Moynalty CU in the 1980s will be very disappointed,” said Cllr Paul McCabe.
"There are people that use the office rather than the online facility and driving to Kingscourt or Baileboro is no use to a lot of them," he said.
“I would be looking for a pop-up clinic maybe once a week to facilitate those who cannot drive to Kingscourt or Baileboro.”
Cllr McCabe said he had been in touch with the manager to get assurances that there will be no loss of jobs and was told that staff will not lose their jobs but will be redeployed to the other two branches.
He said that the credit union had occupied the old Church of Ireland in Moynalty for the past 25 years and it is planned to sell the building once its vacated.

Cllr McCabe will host an urgent community meeting to discuss the announced closure this evening ( Tuesday 10th March) at 8.30pm in the Muintir na Tire Hall, Moynalty. All members of the communities of Moynalty, Mullagh and Carlanstown/Kilbeg are strongly encouraged to attend.
In the letter to members, Michael Donohoe, chairman of Link Credit Union said that the board was extremely conscious of its responsibility and accountability to all its members.
“It is incumbent on the board to ensure the economic viability of every part of the credit union's operations and therefore we have deemed it necessary to take this action.
“The Board regrets any inconvenience this decision may cause you. However, we will continue to provide a credit union service to you and are looking to the future in terms of an enhanced range of services for our members.
“We want to reassure you that Link Credit Union will continue to support the local community and you will be able to undertake all your credit union business at either the Baileboro or Kingscourt offices.”
The Board believes that this action will result in a stronger, more viable credit union for you and all our members,” he said.