Outrage & "Irritation" Over Reduced Opening Hours Of Life Credit Union On Main Street Naas

Life Credit Unions says Thursday and Friday would have been the busiest days in Naas Main Street and for that reason were maintained.

The lack of Credit Union services on the Main Street in Naas "really irritates" one local Councillor, while a number of Naas residents have taken issue with the reduced opening hours of Life Credit Union in the town.

That's despite the Credit Union in Monread being open from Tuesday through until Saturday.

Chairperson, Naas Access Group, Majella O' Keefe has told Kfm, that the credit union closed down during covid and has now reopened for two days a week.

"Naas has a big population and there's a lot of old people living in the town as well, especially in McAuley Place where there's 60 residents, and a lot of new housing estates around the town.

"It isn't fair how everybody has to get into a car and drive, if they can drive, down to Monread Shopping centre to get to the credit union.

" And if you're an older person or a person with an impairment, then you've to get some way to get down there and get a bus, and then you've to hang around to get another bus back, it's not right," she insisted.

Ms. O'Keefe is calling for a return to the original pre- pandemic services on Main Street in, which operated from Monday to Saturday.

Her sentiments were echoed by the Naas Social Democrats Cllr. Bill Clear, who told Kfm that the reduced opening hours "really irritates" him.

Cllr. Clear said it's very difficult for elderly people to make their way out to Monread, especially given the lack of public transport.

"There's a lot of people who don't drive, it's something like 40% of the population that don't drive.

"It's very unfair to people, especially when there is such huge investment in the town.

"Them [Life Credit Union] blaming lack of business, they drew the business [out of the town] themselves," said Cllr. Clear.

In a statement Life Credit Union Said: "Life Credit Union’s usage and branch hours are kept under review, but there are currently no plans to re-open our Naas Main Street branch full time.

"Member numbers have been reducing in our branches steadily over the years, and that pattern was expedited by the Covid pandemic.

"Many of our members are choosing to bank with us using our remote services, such as our 6 day-a-week phone hub and our online banking and loan applications.

"As such the volumes using branches do not justify opening our 4 branches full-time.

"However, following the announcement of the departure of 2 mains banks from Ireland, we have worked hard to ensure availability for members in all of our branches, rather than closing a branch.

"This has meant reduced hours across our network, but with all branches being available for a minimum of 2 days per week. Our Monread branch has greater member volumes than Main Street Naas, therefore, is open Tuesday through Saturday.

"Thursday and Friday would have been the busiest days in Naas Main Street and for that reason were maintained.

"We continue to offer face-to-face services 5 days a week, including late night Thursday and Saturday mornings in our Monread and Newbridge branches.

"We also offer a 6 day a week member service hub on the phone and online solutions for all of our main banking services,"it added.

Listen back to Social Democrats Cllr. Bill Clear, who spoke on Tuesday's Kildare Today:

Listen back, Chairperson, Naas Access Group, Majella O' Keefe: