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Conradh na Gaeilge has requested an urgent meeting with Bank of Ireland about their decision to no longer provide an Irish-language option on new LATMs

Conradh na Gaeilge has requested an urgent meeting with Bank of Ireland to discuss the absence of an Irish-language option on their new lodgement and withdrawal ATMs (LATMs) as well as suggestions as to how the bank could further promote the language.

The community organisation is also calling on its branches and members to talk to their local Bank of Ireland branch to highlight the issue, and to ask the local branch manager to raise the question of the Irish-language option with the bank’s national decision-makers as a matter of urgency.

Julian de Spáinn, General Secretary of Conradh na Gaeilge says:

“Bank of Ireland created a distinct space for themselves in the market by virtue of being the only bank to provide an Irish-language option on such a wide range of ATMs throughout the country, Gaeltacht areas included. Conradh na Gaeilge firmly believes that it would be hugely short-sighted and regressive of Bank of Ireland to no longer provide the public with an Irish-language option on its new LATMs.

“At a time when private businesses such as Google, Microsoft, Energia and Tayto are increasing the number of services they provide for their customers in Irish, and as thousands of potential future customers start in Irish-medium schools this September, it makes no business sense for Bank of Ireland to discard the good will and brand awareness that they have built up with the Irish-speaking and Gaeltacht community over the years.”

According to a survey by Millward Brown in 2015, 42% of the public in the south agree that the Irish language is a unique selling point (USP) for businesses, with only 28% disagreeing.

Síne Nic an Ailí, Communications Executive with Conradh na Gaeilge says:

“Conradh na Gaeilge talks to over 10,000 young people in second level schools, in summer colleges, and in third level institutions throughout Ireland each year, and Bank of Ireland is specifically mentioned in our roadshow as an example of good practice in their provision of an Irish option on ATMs.

“Many people opened an account with Bank of Ireland because of the Irish-language option they provided to their customers, myself and Conradh na Gaeilge included. Irish speakers may not form the majority of Bank of Ireland’s clientele, but the Irish-language option on their ATMs showed that the bank valued their custom and appreciated the innate importance of our national language. We are urging all customers to voice their concerns at their local branch and file official requests that the Irish-language option is retained on new LATMs.”

Conradh na Gaeilge is calling on Bank of Ireland to increase the number of services in Irish that they provide, to retain the Irish-language option on their new lodgement and withdrawal ATMs, and to continue to serve the Irish-speaking and Gaeltacht community as well as they do.

Bank of Ireland customers can urge the bank to retain its Irish-language option on new LATMs by speaking to a member of staff in any branch, by calling them on the phone, or by writing to them; see www.bankofireland.com/help-centre/customer-complaints-process/.