Our branch buildings
One of the most tangible and visible reminders of our heritage is our portfolio of historic branch buildings. Since the 1830s, when Irish banks first began to open branch offices on a large scale, bank buildings have dominated the high streets of towns across Ireland.
Grand beginnings
Many of the banks of the Victorian and Edwardian age were grand, purpose-designed banking houses. Their magnificence reflected the growing size and importance of the business conducted there. The preference was for prominent corner sites and quality building materials such as sandstone, granite and marble. The principal branches were designed to impress. Built in a classical style, they featured pediments and pillars. In smaller towns and villages, it was more common to adapt space in existing houses, shops or hotels for bank use.
Beauty old and new
Our heritage buildings range from the impressive College Green branch, opened in 1891, to our more modest but equally attractive branch buildings in towns like Bangor, Limerick, Ballyclare, Larne, Castlewellan and Granard. Even our new Belfast head office in Donegall Square East was created, through clever architectural design, behind the historic and beautiful façade of an old Methodist churchReclaiming lost splendour
During our recent branch refurbishment programme, we restored the large mezzanine central window of our flagship branch in Dublin's O'Connell Street. This had been lost during modernisation works in the mid 1970s.
The branch was built by Ulster Bank in 1923 to the original designs of architect James Hanna. Our restoration work earned the building a 'highly commended' award in the Best Building Conservation category of the 2009 Irish Architectural Awards.