A local Senator and post master has branded AIB move to remove cash services from several local branches as 'bittersweet'.
70 branches around the country are set to go coin free as the bank aims to move more services online.
The bank's partnership with An Post will be expanded, so that customers can lodge and withdraw money from their account through their local post offices.
The decision is premature according to Ballinalee Postmaster and Fine Gael Senator Micheál Carrigy.
While he welcomes the increased use and support for the post office network, he says he did not want to see it at the cost of services in local AIB branches.
Senator Carrigy fears that the move by AIB will see people travelling out of the county to access banking services to the detriment of local businesses.
He believes that it's an 'appalling' way to treat bank customers:
''It is bittersweet. You know what I think it's left a significant number of customers and companies, not just in Longford town but in the county not being able to use the services of the bank, but also the notification that the actual cash machine is going to be withdrawn in October and while I welcome to extra business that would come into the post office network, I don't think I wanted to see this happen in this way. I think it's very premature.''
