Omagh’s high street has been dealt a further banking blow after UK bank HSBC announced it would be closing its branch in the Co Tyrone town, as well as its Derry branch.
The closures are part of a wider announcement by HSBC which will see 69 branches close across the UK.
The branch’s closure in Omagh comes following the controversial decision by AIB to close their Omagh branch last year.
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Derry was also hit with a closure last year when Bank of Ireland said it would be closing its branch in the city.
Local representatives were sent a letter today informing them of the closure of the branches.
“I am writing to let you know that HSBC UK is today announcing the closure of 69 branches,” the letter, seen by MyTyrone, said.
“Within this group, we have taken the difficult decision to close the HSBC UK branch in Omagh within your constituency.
“I would like to assure you that the decision has not been taken lightly and reflects the need to maintain a sustainable branch network for the benefit of our customers.
“We have informed our colleagues at the branch and, wherever possible, will work with them to find them alternative roles with us.
“Posters will be displayed in the branch giving details of the closure, and we will be writing to regular users of Omagh branch on 9th May 2022 to provide more information about the closure and the alternative services available to them.”
The letter added that the administration of all accounts held at the Omagh branch will be moved to its Portadown branch, 33.3 miles away from its current location on the Dublin Road.
The letter added: "We want to do our best to support our customers and will work over the coming months to support those who face particular difficulties as a result of the closures.
"We will be running Community Pop Up Events, where our branch experts will provide customers with financial education, help with their digital banking, and support around fraud awareness."
SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan said the decision by HSBC to close the branches was 'terrible news'.
“This is not cuts to balance the books. HSBC made $18.9 billion last year," McCrossan said.
“This is terrible news for Omagh. In the last ten years, communities across Northern Ireland seen more than half of our High Street banks disappear, with more than 100 branch closures.
"This is the loss of vital financial services in urban and rural communities, making financial services less accessible, and having negative knock-on effects for the high street.
“Local bank branches are important community assets and the decision to close them have huge consequences for rural people and particularly our elderly and most vulnerable people”
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