I cannot lodge a Sterling dividend direct in to my account unless I go to my actual branch. They say in my local office that they will "post" it to my branch for me. I presume that they mean internal post. Why they cannot process the dividend as a normal lodgment, as if I was in my own branch seems antiquated to me.
2. You cannot do online transfers to accounts outside of Ireland. UB are still using an ancient system of having to go into your local branch and complete long forms. For all of AIB's faults you could at least transfer money online to any account in Europe.
Personally I've lodged £ cheques to my own account in another branch with no issues and the system in use in UB branches is the same platform across their entire network, I've a feeling that what you may have here is local practice as opposed to anything else.
I can send money to anwhere, all I need for irish accounts is the sort code and account number and just need the SWIFT and IBAN numbers for international accounts. There's no additional fees once everything is in EURO.
So long as it is all in euros it should be free.