The Bank of Ireland has begun upgrading its ATM network following a €60m investment announced last year.
Marking the bank’s largest single investment in ATMs in the last year, the bank has started to roll out a programme between now and the end of 2027, which will see 650 ATMs installed in all Bank of Ireland branches across the country.
Susan Russell, CEO of Bank of Ireland’s Retail Ireland division, remarked: “As a full-service retail bank with a presence right across the island of Ireland, we are committed to continually improving our services and our customers’ financial wellbeing.
“This means investing purposefully in branches, contact centres, technology, ATMs and other infrastructure to ensure we have the most modern and efficient banking services available.”
The new ATMs will be a much-needed upgrade, offering greater cash processing capacity while reducing energy consumption by over 50%. The investment also includes five years of servicing and maintenance.
To improve accessibility, the machines are designed to support visually impaired users. Each ATM features a high-contrast screen and an earphone socket, allowing customers to receive voice-guided assistance throughout their transaction.
Russell concluded: “Renewing the entire fleet is a major investment but it will enhance our customers’ access to cash. We are excited to see the first new ATMs now installed and we’re pressing ahead with the rollout to the rest of our branches.”
Additional investments
Access to cash isn’t the only area where the Bank of Ireland has committed investment over the past year.
With fraud levels rising globally, the bank has also prioritised fraud prevention initiatives as part of its Programme for Government. These measures include the creation of a Shared Fraud Database, exploring the potential for an SMS scam filter, ensuring that online platforms only promote financial products from companies regulated by the appropriate national authority.
The bank’s UK branches in Northern Ireland announced a separate £100m investment over the next three years to deliver faster payment services for its retail and SME customers.
This investment will focus on improving the bank’s Everyday Banking products and services, while also expanding its range of sustainable lending options, mortgages, and broker solutions.
At the time, Gail Goldie, CEO of Bank of Ireland UK, stated: “This investment is a measure of our ambition to continue to support our customers in Northern Ireland and sustainably grow our business.”
