Residents and local businesses have aired their disappointment following the announcement by Ulster Bank this week that it will be closing its Lisnaskea branch in March 2023.

This will leave the second largest town in Fermanagh with no banking representation following the closure of the Bank of Ireland branch in 2021. Only the Post Office service remains as a means of banking for residents and businesses of the area.

Mervyn Gregg, a director of Dowlers, a hardware store in Lisnaskea town centre commented that he is “extremely disappointed and horrified” by the proposed closure of the Ulster Bank branch.

“We conduct all our business with them. It will be a massive loss to us and a massive inconvenience as well.

“You are also fearful as well of the knock-on effect it could potentially have on our business on the amount of footfall. Maybe there will be less people inclined to come into Lisnaskea because it has no banking facilities,” said Mr. Gregg.

Fellow Lisnaskea businessman Glenn Charles of Cherrytree Bakery described the proposed closure of the Ulster Bank branch as “unfortunate”.

He said: “It was probably only a matter of time before Ulster Bank did close down in Lisnaskea because the other two main banks have closed.

“It’s unfortunate. It seems to be the way banking is going.

“It doesn’t do local communities any good, especially rural local communities.”

Talking about how it will have an impact on business, Mr. Charles commented: “It just leaves the local Post Office as the only place where we can lodge or get cash.

“That puts a lot of strain on the Post Office.”

Lisnaskea newsagent John McBrien echoed the concerns of Mr. Charles and Mr. Gregg regarding the Ulster Bank closure.

“It’d be a disaster. That [will] leave no official banks in the town. The only saving grace is the Post Office, you can lodge there but anything complicated you’ll have to go to Enniskillen. That would be desperate,” he said.

Ulster Unionist Assembly Member for Fermanagh South Tyrone Tom Elliott has expressed disappointment at the proposals by Ulster Bank to close its branch in Lisnaskea.

Mr. Elliott said: “Once again we are seeing vital services being stripped from the rural community as a policy decision of centralisation rather than putting customer needs first. The usual story of increased online banking and automated systems are used.

“It will come as a blow to local families, farms and businesses in the Lisnaskea and Erne East area. This is a thriving and active community, this decision will have a major negative impact on the businesses and people of this area.

“This decision will be extremely disappointing and frustrating for the community of Lisnaskea and Erne East area to have another important service removed when the Lisnaskea branch of the Ulster Bank closes on March 6 next year.

“Market towns, villages and rural communities are suffering the impact of these centralised decisions. I wonder was this decision subject to a rural Needs Assessment or consideration given to those who cannot use online banking or not in a position to go to Enniskillen or other centres to use banking facilities?”

Sinn Féin MLA for Fermanagh and South Tyrone Áine Murphy said the planned closure is a “blow to the local community”.

Ms. Murphy added: “My immediate thoughts are with the workers impacted by this announcement. All efforts must be made by Ulster Bank to redeploy and re-skill workers from this branch.

“While the trend is towards increasing digital banking, for some customers this is not convenient or possible and for rural communities, important services are disappearing. For many, including local people, businesses and communities, access to cash and a local bank is crucial.

“I will be writing to Ulster Bank today to request a meeting about the planned closure.”