Bank of Ireland Overview and Banking Services

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Decorative cardboard illustration of lock on bank with American paper money under Deposit inscription on blue background
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Bank of Ireland is a well-established bank in Ireland with a long history dating back to 1783. It's one of the country's largest financial institutions.

The bank offers a range of banking services including personal and business banking, mortgages, and savings options.

Bank of Ireland has over 240 branches across Ireland, making it easily accessible to customers nationwide.

History of Bank of Ireland

Bank of Ireland has a long history of providing financial services to the people of Ireland. The group offers a wide range of services, including checking and deposit services, overdrafts, and term loans.

At its peak in 1969, Bank of Ireland had a staggering 500 branches in the Republic of Ireland. This was a significant presence, to say the least.

Over time, the number of branches has gradually been reduced, and by 2022, there were only 169 branches remaining.

Bank Operations

Bank of Ireland offers a wide range of financial services in Ireland, including checking and deposit services, overdrafts, term loans, mortgages, and more.

The bank provides services to various sectors, such as personal, commercial, industrial, and agricultural.

At its height in 1969, Bank of Ireland had 500 branches in the Republic of Ireland, but by 2022, the number of branches had been cut to 169.

Role as Government Official

1 Us Bank Note
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Bank of Ireland operated the Exchequer Account, a crucial function that allowed the government to manage its finances effectively.

As the banker of the Irish Government from 1922 to 1971, Bank of Ireland played a vital role in the country's financial system.

The bank acted as a banker of last resort during the nineteenth century, providing financial support to the government when needed.

Bank of Ireland's chairman of the board of directors was titled the Governor, a nod to its central bank-like status.

The board itself was called the Court of Directors, further emphasizing the bank's significant role in the government's financial affairs.

Headquarters

The Bank of Ireland's headquarters have a rich history. The bank's original headquarters was the impressive Parliament House on College Green, Dublin, which was originally designed by Sir Edward Lovett Pearce in 1729.

This historic building was the world's first purpose-built bicameral parliament building. The bank had planned to commission a new building on the site bounded by Westmoreland Street, Fleet Street, College Street, and D'Olier Street, but the project was cancelled after the Act of Union in 1800.

Credit: youtube.com, First Bank Headquarters Time Lapse

The former Parliament House continues to be a working branch today, and visitors can still view the impressive Irish House of Lords chamber within the old headquarters building. The Oireachtas, the modern parliament of Ireland, is now housed in Leinster House in Dublin.

In the 1970s, the bank moved its headquarters to a modern building, now known as Miesian Plaza, on Lower Baggot Street, Dublin 2. This building was notable for its extensive use of copper, which caused the world price of copper to rise at the time.

The bank moved again in 2010, this time to a smaller headquarters on Mespil Road.

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Banking Services

Bank of Ireland, headquartered in Dublin, operates in several countries including the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Great Britain, and elsewhere.

Bank of Ireland is a member of the Euro Banking Association, which includes countries such as Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden.

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The bank has a significant presence in Europe, with operations in many countries that use the Euro currency.

Bank of Ireland offers a range of banking services to its customers, including banking services in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Great Britain.

Here is a list of some of the countries where Bank of Ireland operates:

  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Cyprus
  • Denmark
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Hungary
  • Ireland
  • Italy
  • Luxembourg
  • Netherlands
  • Portugal
  • Slovenia
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • United Kingdom

Trim Branch Is

Trim branch Bank of Ireland provides a range of financial services to the local community.

At its height, Bank of Ireland had 500 branches in the Republic of Ireland, but by 2022, the number of branches had gradually been cut to 169.

The branch offers checking and deposit services, overdrafts, term loans, mortgages, international asset financing, leasing, instalment credit, debt financing, foreign exchange facilities, interest and exchange rate hedging instruments, executor and trustee services.

Unfortunately, the service at the Trim branch is extremely disappointing, with everything taking an unreasonably long time and employees being completely uninformed.

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Relationship with Outsourcing Companies

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Bank of Ireland has a long history of partnering with outsourcing companies to manage its IT infrastructure. This relationship began in 2004 with HP, but was later taken over by IBM in 2010.

IBM won a $450 million contract to manage BoI's IT infrastructure services, including mainframes, servers, desktops, and print services. This contract was the result of a competitive bid against HP and HCL.

In 2011, IBM was selected for exclusive contract negotiations after a competitive bid process. An extensive due diligence phase was undertaken, and regulatory approval was granted before the contract was finalized.

HCL was given a €30 million Business Process Outsourcing contract, and was also selected as a strategic local resourcing partner in Ireland. This relationship has been seen as controversial due to HCL's lack of investment in Ireland despite receiving significant taxpayer support for Bank of Ireland.

International Presence

Bank of Ireland has a significant presence beyond its home market in Ireland.

The bank operates in several countries, with services provided in France, Germany, Spain, and the United States.

Bank of Ireland Corporate Banking is responsible for these international operations, offering a range of services to customers.

Its international operations are primarily focused on corporate banking, serving businesses in key markets.

Notable Issues

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Bank of Ireland was involved in a recapitalization that cost the taxpayer €3.5 billion in 2009. The information provided to the Department of Finance was incomplete and misleading.

The bank gave wrong information to the Minister for Finance, who in turn misled the Dáil about €66 million in bonuses paid since receiving a State guarantee. This was done using a restrictive and uncommon interpretation of what constituted a performance bonus.

External examiners found a catalogue of errors in the information supplied by Bank of Ireland to the Department of Finance. The information was presented in a manner that minimised the level of additional payments made.

Bank of Ireland paid €2 million by way of compensation to the Exchequer for providing misleading information.

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Customer Service

Bank of Ireland's customer service is available 24/7 through their online banking platform.

You can contact their customer service team by phone, email, or through their mobile banking app.

Great Customer Service from Christine!

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Christine from Bank of Ireland's Debit Card department went above and beyond to help a customer cancel a recurring debit.

She spent about 20 minutes on the phone with the customer, explaining the process step by step.

Christine even apologized for the process taking so long, acknowledging that it wasn't her fault.

People like Christine make customers love dealing with Bank of Ireland, as they provide exceptional service and go the extra mile to help.

In fact, the customer praised Christine as one of the many staff members who consistently deliver great service, making Bank of Ireland a brilliant institution to deal with.

Christine's solutions to the customer's problems were so effective that the customer was able to accomplish their goal, despite some initial hiccups.

Follow-up to Previous Complaint

I've had my fair share of frustrating experiences with customer service, and a recent encounter with BOI's India call centre is a perfect example. They were unable to resolve my issue, so I had to escalate it to someone in Dublin.

Credit: youtube.com, Following Up With Customers

The solution they suggested was to use Google Chrome to access business banking, claiming it's more compatible with their system. Let's be honest, Google Chrome is not secure, and that's just the tip of the iceberg.

BOI's treatment of customers is appalling, and they always seem to shift the blame. Even the Bank Regulator took notice, fining them 24.5 million for their poor service. It's clear that lessons are never learned as long as the customer pays the price.

Financial Performance

Bank of Ireland's financial performance has been steadily improving over the years. The bank's pre-tax profits have increased by 22% to €1.1 billion in 2020.

The bank's cost-income ratio has decreased from 73.4% in 2019 to 69.3% in 2020, indicating a more efficient operation. This improvement is a result of the bank's efforts to streamline its operations and reduce costs.

The bank's return on equity (ROE) has also improved, reaching 12.4% in 2020. This is a significant increase from the 8.4% recorded in 2019.

The bank's capital position remains strong, with a common equity tier 1 (CET1) ratio of 16.4% in 2020. This is well above the regulatory minimum requirement.

Elena Feeney-Jacobs

Junior Writer

Elena Feeney-Jacobs is a seasoned writer with a deep interest in the Australian real estate market. Her insightful articles have shed light on the operations of major real estate companies and investment trusts, providing readers with a comprehensive understanding of the industry. She has a particular focus on companies listed on the Australian Securities Exchange and those based in Sydney, offering valuable insights into the local and national economies.

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