Bank branches across the country to close on Friday evening

KBC Bank Ireland is to permanently close all but one of its remaining branches or hubs around the country later this evening, Friday.

The bank is winding down its operations around the country ahead of its exit from the Irish market later this year.

A total of 11 hubs in Galway, Limerick, Cork, Waterford, Kildare and Dublin will close at 5pm this evening.

The closures were announced six months ago, when notice was given that they were to shut permanently.

KBC outlined that it had written to customers to provide 6 months’ notice that the following KBC Hubs will close permanently from 5pm on 10th March 2023: Galway, Limerick, Lapps Quay Cork, Wilton Shopping Centre Cork, Waterford, Maynooth, Main Street Swords, Blanchardstown Shopping Centre, College Green Dublin, Baggot Street Dublin and Stillorgan.

"Recognising that some of our customers may still wish to attend a KBC Hub in person beyond this date, the Grand Canal Dublin Hub will remain open until the 31st August 2023 and then permanently close from this date," a statement read.

The closures will result in 75 people losing their jobs.

"I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to all departing KBC Bank Ireland Hub employees who, over the past 10 years, have provided exemplary service to our customers in communities around Ireland," said Frank Jansen, CEO of KBC Bank Ireland.

KBC said it will continue to support and service customers through its contact centre as it continues its wind-down plan over the coming months.

In February, KBC Bank confirmed that Bank of Ireland had acquired substantially all of KBC Bank Ireland’s performing loan assets and deposits.

The acquisition for an initial total consideration of c. 6.4 billion euros, involved c. 7.6 billion euros of performing mortgages, c. 0.1 billion euros of mainly performing commercial and consumer loans, c. 0.2 billion euros of non-performing mortgages, and 1.8 billion euros of deposits.

A number of KBC staff are also transferring to Bank of Ireland.