Bank of Ireland staff to be laid off before Christmas

Contract staff working in Bank of Ireland branches to get customers to use self-service machines, instead of transacting at counters, are to be laid off just ahead of Christmas.

Bank of Ireland generated controversy when the Irish Independent revealed it is restricting over-the-counter cash withdrawals to sums over €700.

The bank will only allow counter staff to lodge a cheque for customers if they have 15 of them, and cash lodgements are limited to €2,000.

Finance Minister Michael Noonan and the Central Bank both urged the bank to facilitate the less technically savvy.

But now it has emerged that 140 contract staff engaged from recruitment agency CPL Resources in what the bank calls "digitalisation" work are being let go weeks before Christmas.