An Post has welcomed Allied Irish Banks (AIB)’s announcement that it is to offer everyday banking through Ireland’s post offices.
This is partly because 540 of An Post’s post offices are situated in parts of the country without any bank within a 5km radius. This agreement will mean the country’s post offices will have extended opening hours and Saturday openings across the network. As part of this arrangement, An Post is developing community banking to diversify and grow financial service products for consumers and SMEs through initiatives like An Post Money, Travel Money, partnerships with AIB and Bank of Ireland and a range of State Savings products. A national campaign, with the message ‘Your bank is in your local post office’ is underway nationwide. The campaign is intended to underline the importance of the post office in delivering everyday banking to local businesses and individual customers.
The company also plans to make online shopping easier with parcel and mail services including out-of-hours collections, returns, tracking, payments and redirections for consumers and small business owners. An Post will also expand its range of local and central government services, making it easier for citizens to interact with the state and to support the government’s National Digital Strategy.
Debbie Byrne, managing director of retail at An Post, said, “An Post welcomes the strengthening of our relationship with AIB. We are delighted to partner with it, providing everyday banking services to AIB customers, six days a week, across our national post office network. Our network of circa 920 post offices is intrinsic to the financial and social fabric of Ireland. The positive impact of this enhanced partnership recognizes the needs of local communities and helps underpin the future sustainability of the network as we continue to innovate and reimagine the role of the post office in communities into the future.”