Truly excellent post, Sunny in response to some very distasteful comments/posts.
I don't think one person here doesn't agree with the analysis of where banking through a branch is going. Just like numerous other ways of doing business. Nobody mentioned keeping branches open for the sake of it or for the sake of employees. Nobody mentioned holding up progress.
I also can get a sense of pure snobbery on this thread....
There is a way to make a point without disparaging people and what they do. And in this instance, I think AAM is wrong. Shows a lack of respect to some very good people.
Fair enough, we can agree to disagreeWhy are some sectors of our economy “sacred cows” while other parts get filleted as a matter of routine and nobody bats an eyelid?
Businesses such as greengrocers largely went the way of the dodo and I don’t remember anyone kicking up a fuss.
But certain demonstrably unviable business models seem to evoke fire and brimstone.
Exhibits A, B, and C being small farms, rural pubs, and bank branches.
Nobody is for a minute suggesting “why don’t they all work for Facebook?”, but the demise of these business models has been on the horizon for a long long time.
Maybe some people would prefer if I said “Ah that’s so sad! Isn’t it terrible? Those poor people!”
But in reality, the experienced ones will be redeployed or paid off handsomely and walk into other jobs in an economy with full employment. And the inexperienced ones deserve little sympathy for the reasons previously articulated.
Where did I say that they should?Bank of Ireland should not be forced to keep rarely used branches open ...
This is what some of us are discussing, the blatant ironic sarcasm of intelligent people with a sort of contempt for people about to lose their jobs. Like they themselves, a confident cocky group, were never ever going to see a poor day.Where did I say that they should?
Look. This thread will go like so many other threads. It will be closed down. The protected elite will have had their say and they will wait for another thread to come along, then off again.This is what some of us are discussing, the blatant ironic sarcasm of intelligent people with a sort of contempt for people about to lose their jobs. Like they themselves, a confident cocky group, were never ever going to see a poor day.
The internet became a mass phenomenon 25 years ago when these people were in their 40s and 50s.
I don't think it's been a mass phenomenon 25 years ago, more like 15 years ago, but your point stands; if you can use a smart phone you can use internet banking.The voxpops on the radio today featured people in their 60s and 70s claiming that they are "too old" for internet banking. The internet became a mass phenomenon 25 years ago when these people were in their 40s and 50s. Their laziness and lack of curiosity seems to serve them as a badge of honour.
Okay, but the point stands; the people who are now 75-85 were 55-60. If you aren't willing to spend 15 minutes learning something new at that age then you are responsible for the consequences.iirc I think the internet only really became ubiquitous \ normalised in the early to mid 00s. Look at when the likes of myspace, bebo, then Facebook started.
Until then except for email it was still a thing for freaks and geeks
One point that is being missed completely in all the bickering; is how this affects older people.
I've posted before on the horrors of navigating customer services (even when they are, relatively, well run - though two cans and some string would be more efficient than Eir).
We really have no comprehension of how enormous the changes have been for someone who was born in the early part of the last century.
One elderly relative is fond of telling a story that in the village they grew up in, only the local Dr. / Priest / Solicitor had a telephone; and when they first started work in the Big Smoke, the first time a telephone rang, they ran out the door thinking it was an air raid.
These are the folks we are asking to stop writing cheques/ going into banks and start using digital banking / Revolut / Smart phones; never mind that in some rural areas you could be half way up a tree trying to get a signal.
Edit to add: before someone tells me that their 70 year old Grandparent is so "with it" they do hip hop dance classes and are planning to hill trek in Nepal - that's not really the point.
Imagine asking some one from the mid-19th Century to drive your car - that's what "digital banking" can feel like if you haven't grown up with computerisation.
Smart phone apps with their guiding 'wizard' interfaces have certainly simplified things.
I'm not sure how familiar you are with Bank of Ireland's app!
Yea, maybe Bank of Ireland could talk to An Post about helping out in those circumstances... oh, wait...I have older relatives who don't have smartphones. Some (but not all) can use texts on a 'dumb' phone. They all have some basic internet skills. They are able to master some websites if they are determined. For example one plays bridge online. They all have basic computers at home now but some of them used internet in the libraries for years first. They were reluctant to spend money on computers or internet services if they didn't need to.
But most of them aren't comfortable with the internet especially for financial transactions, especially when there are so many warnings about possible scams. In my experience nieces, nephews, sons and daughters get asked to do tasks for them. And that wouldn't be appropriate for banking or confidential matters.
Surely it's the complete opposite.Announcements like this, to me, show that senior managers weren't doing their job.
Surely it's the complete opposite.
By closing the branches and cutting costs they are clearly doing their job?
How often do people actually visit their bank in person?
I probably do about once a year and that's only when some dinosaur gives me a cheque that I have to lodge.