Ulster Bank Celebrates the Opening of its New North Cork Business Centre and Branch in Blackpool

16th January 2008

Ulster Bank customers and staff celebrated the official opening of its new North Cork Business Centre and Branch on Dublin Street, Blackpool, Co Cork, at a ceremony today. This state-of-the-art, 700 sq metres premises adds to the significant investment Ulster Bank is making to its distribution network in Cork and will serve the business and personal banking needs of the North Cork area.

Through these new premises, the local Ulster Bank team led by Business Centre Manager Declan Daly and Branch Manager Sheila Mulqueen will be on hand to provide a first class service to both business and personal customers.

Speaking at the opening, Mike Bamber, Chief Executive, Ulster Bank Retail Markets said; "We are delighted to officially open the doors of our new premises here in Blackpool today. This opening highlights our ongoing commitment, not only to upgrading existing premises, but to expanding our network throughout Ireland. Since October, the Blackpool team have been working hard to build a profile for Ulster Bank in the area. To date they have welcomed many local residents and business people to the branch and have spent time introducing the wide range of innovative products and services we have to offer."

He continued, "At Ulster Bank we are committed to providing the very best service and becoming part and parcel of the local community. We have been at the forefront in delivering real competition in the market for some time now by offering innovative products across all areas from mortgages to current accounts and are looking forward to bringing the benefits of these products such as our €150 current account switcher incentive* to our new customers in Blackpool."

John McGrane, Director of Business Banking, said; "This investment in our business banking infrastructure represents our ongoing commitment to supporting and inspiring businesses across Ireland. As always our core service values will remain the same - client focused and being distinctive in the provision of our product offering. We are committed to delivering bespoke financial solutions to our expanding customer base and are always keen to meet with prospective new clients."

The official ribbon cutting ceremony took place with 91 year old Chrissy Buckley, a customer of Ulster Bank for over 40 years, in attendance. Chrissy was the first customer to walk into the premises last October when it first opened.

There are 222 Ulster Bank branches and 56 business banking offices across Ireland; Ulster Bank has also opened premises in Fermoy and Carrigaline in recent months and plans to open four more outlets across Munster in the next 18 months.

Note to Editor:

*Terms & Conditions of €150 offer

This offer is only available from Ulster Bank Ireland Limited in the Republic of Ireland (hereafter "Ulster Bank").

The offer is only available to new customers who switch their existing current account and mandate their salary to an Ulster Bank ufirst Account, Current Account or Step Account (hereafter a "Current Account") using the Ulster Bank centralised switching team between 15 October 2007 and 30 November 2007.

The offer is not available to existing Ulster Bank current account customers; it is not applicable to new student current accounts.

Each customer may avail of this offer in respect of one Ulster Bank account only.

In order to be eligible for this offer, customers must use their new Current Account as their "main account" for a period of 18 months from the date of account-opening. This means that the customer's salary / wages must be paid into the new Ulster Bank Current Account on a weekly/ fortnightly / monthly basis depending on the frequency the customer is paid.

Ulster Bank will lodge €150 into new qualifying Current Accounts on or before 11 January 2008.

Ulster Bank shall be entitled to refuse to pay, or to seek repayment of, the €150 (whether by debiting the Current Account or otherwise) if it deems in its discretion that the new Current Account has not been opened or operated in accordance with these terms and conditions.

All applications to open Ulster Bank Current Account are subject to acceptance by Ulster Bank; the relevant Ulster Bank Current Account terms and conditions will apply.

This offer is subject to change and may be withdrawn by Ulster Bank at any time.