Ulster Bank marks 1.5m Belfast city branch investment
17th Sep 2008
Ulster Bank today, 16th September 2008, reached a major milestone in its 56 million branch investment programme with the launch of the newly refurbished flagship branch in Belfast city centre. The unveiling of the 1.5m investment at Ulster Bank's Belfast City Office, beside its headquarters on Donegall Sq East, is part of a major four-year programme to enhance and expand the banks branch distribution network across the island of Ireland.
As part of the programme, most of Ulster Bank's 92 Northern Ireland branches have already been revamped or relocated to new state-of-the-art premises, and a new outlet has been opened at the Millennium Forum in Londonderry.
The refurbished premises at Donegall Square East will continue to serve the banking needs of Ulster Bank personal and SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) customers in Belfast city centre and the wider Belfast area.
Mike Bamber, Chief Executive Retail Markets, Ulster Bank Group, said: While other banks are closing branches, we have continued to invest in our branch and business centre network. We are committed to ensuring our customers receive the absolute highest quality branch experience and are therefore delighted to unveil our improved, new-look Belfast City Office. In Belfast city centre alone we have invested more than 2.5m in our branch network this year, including more than 1m invested in our Lombard Street premises and the introduction of four new ATMs at the recently opened Victoria Square bringing our total number of ATMs to 261 in Northern Ireland.
We have the largest branch network of any bank in Northern Ireland, which is complimented by our market-leading internet and mobile phone banking services, Mr Bamber continued.
We have also recently launched our private banking proposition for which weve recruited and trained a top quality team of relationship managers based in key towns and cities across Northern Ireland and who will be supported by a dedicated team in Belfast. We are committed to providing a market-leading retail banking service and will continue to introduce innovations to meet the needs of our customers, Mr Bamber adds.
Commenting on the Belfast City Office investment, Henry Elvin, Ulster Bank's Head of Business Banking in Northern Ireland, says: The Commercial team and business centre at our Belfast City Office works with thousands of small and medium-sized businesses in the Belfast area and this investment signals our ongoing commitment to providing the highest levels of service and support.
In addition to enhanced and expanded customer areas and a new internal Euro ATM, the investment at Ulster Bank's Belfast City Office includes a special feature wall with visuals of key Belfast images and buildings, emphasising Ulster Bank's 172-year association with the city.