I would go one further, and wonder about the need for a retail banking sector at all. Instead, everyone should be allowed borrow direct from ECB at their prevailing rates, same as banks do - which elimates the need for commercial and retail banks.
I don't say that lightly, the careers and livelihoods of thousands of banking workers are under threat as a consequence of emerging technology, 5G, 6G , AI etc and Ulster Banks withdrawal, to me, is just another death knell of the banking sector.
Before this health crisis, I found it rare to go into a bank and when I do it is mostly automated. As an Ulster Bank customer, it is somewhat sad, as I found their customer service over the years to be excellent.
The ECB will definitely not become here a retail and commercial bank - there is no need to nor a will to go that route.
Banking and Banking functions like money lending are around since the Assyrians and will survive all of us.
5G/6G/AI are not a death knell to banks - you make here wild claims. Banking develops obviously with technology and regulations but is not going away.