SINN Féin’s Elisha McCallion has said the planned closure of half of the First Trust bank branches in the north will hit rural areas particularly hard.
The branch in Derry’s Crescent Link, one in Strabane and another one in Magherafelt will shut their doors to customers later this year.
Around 130 jobs counter service jobs will go as part of a voluntary redundancy scheme.
A further 70 are under threat at its head offices
The former Mayor of Derry said: “News that First Trust bank is planning to close half of its branches across the north including its branch at Crescent Link will come as a shock to many.
“Bank branches provide a key service in many local communities for both small businesses and personal banking customers.
“The loss of these branches will be particularly keenly felt in rural areas with people having to travel longer distances to access a bank.
“The news will also come as a blow to bank staff who will be facing an uncertain future following this announcement.”
