Allied Irish Bank (AIB) has decided to up and leave DCU campus and relocate services to their Santry branch.
After more than 20 years on Campus grounds the bank is due to cease it’s operations on March 22nd.
AIB Corporate Affairs and Strategy Representative, Helen Leonard told The College View the bank did not seek to leave the College but were forced to do so after they were unable to reach a lease agreement with DCU.
“AIB did not make a decision to leave DCU proactively. AIB’s presence was at foot of a lease agreement with DCU, the property owner.”
She said: “At regular intervals this lease is put out to tender, and after a 20 year presence in DCU, unfortunately, we did not secure renewal of the lease this time.
“Whilst this means we will no longer be present on the campus, AIB will continue to provide a full range of banking services to all of our customers both out of AIB Santry branch and also through www.AIB.ie and our phone and mobile banking services.”
When asked about lease payments, AIB refused to comment, saying: “We are not in a position to comment on this as per tender process guidelines”.
Bank of Ireland has taken up the lease, saying they will offer “cutting edge” services to students.
The bank has secured the contract with DCU, and will provide an on Campus ATM and facilitate banking for close to 9,000 full time students.
DCU’s Office of Student Life has said they are unsure of what will come of their banking situation as result of the AIB closure. Many of DCU’s clubs and societies hold their accounts with the AIB branch on campus and these accounts are expected to be transferred to the Santry branch.
In October and November of last year, AIB closed 47 branches around Ireland in an attempt to cut costs and 13 more are to shut this year.
Gill Fitzsimons
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