Bank ofIreland plans to close eight of its 36 branches in NorthernIreland, potentially affecting as many as 54 staff, the Irish Independent reported July 20.

The bank said the branches no longer had sufficient businessvolume to be sustainable. Affected staff will have the opportunity to transfer,redeploy or relocate to other roles within the bank or apply for voluntaryredundancy, according to the report.

The eight outlets that will be closed are the Belfast CityHall branch at Donegall Square South and others at Castlereagh, Draperstown,Antrim, Belleek, Castlederg, Newtownards and Maghera, according to the Irish News. The bank said customers willbe notified 60 days in advance of the exact closing dates and that the cuts willnot affect its branches in the Republic of Ireland.