Mayo councillor 'shocked' with business hour changes of five credit union branches
Cllr Alma Gallagher
Fine Gael Councillor Alma Gallagher condemns First Choice Credit Union’s decision to shrink business hours in five of its branches: Achill, Balla, Ballyhaunis, Swinford and Kiltimagh.
Councillor Gallagher said she was shocked to read the notice on the front door of the Ballyhaunis Branch that stated ‘with effect from 14th of June 2025 we are changing our Business Hours for our Balla, Ballyhaunis, Kiltimagh and Swinford Branches’. All branches had been reduced to a three-day week with the exception of Balla, which has been reduced to one day.
‘The decision goes against the ethos of what Credit Unions represent’, Cllr Gallagher stated. ‘A Credit Union is an organisation of people for people. It exists only to serve its members – not to profit from their needs, and continues that Irish tradition of cooperative self-help. It prides itself on customer interaction and engagement’.
The Ballyhaunis-based councillor said the decision is all the more shocking given its recent merger with Kiltimagh last year that created a Credit Union with more than 260 million in assets, over 40,000 members and 6 branches throughout Mayo, making it one of the largest credit unions in the West of Ireland.
This amalgamation was seen as positive not only from a financial and member perspective but also from an administrative one in the context of the current regulatory environment.
In 2021, First Choice Credit Union described itself as a designated essential service, prioritising the strengthening of the credit union and committing to being there for its members. The organisation also met the ATM’s needs of the town in the aftermath of the closure of the Bank of Ireland.
‘Ballyhaunis is unique, it has a growing population, and is a designated under the Town Centre First initiative. We are asking people to stay local, shop local, wanting to attract new business and vibrancy into our town but yet our own Credit Union is deciding to shrink its business hours without any explanation or rationale. Ballyhaunis has a high level of employment with several industries employing over 500 people. It is a town serving a large rural hinterland of Granlahan, Tooreen, Aghamore, Brickens etc’.
Ballyhaunis Credit Union first opened its doors in May 1966 and transferred to First Choice Credit Union in 2015.
‘I am appealing to the Board of First Choice Credit Union to reverse its decision to shrink its business hours to three days a week. I am appealing for more dialogue and transparency with its members and supporting Ballyhaunis Chamber of Commerce in their request for a meeting with the Board’.
'Reduction in access to essential financial services has a profound impact on a town like Ballyhaunis, for residents of rural areas, particularly those without reliable internet access or digital literacy; our local Credit Union is crucial for the day-to-day financial functioning of our town.'
