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Bank Opening Hours

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  • 26-05-2010 2:01pm
    #1
    boboirl
    Closed Accounts Posts: 69 ✭✭


    Why are the general banks opening hours so rediculous?!?

    And their customers seem to put up with it....

    I mean come on, how many shops for example would only open from say 10 am to 4pm... with an hour closed for lunch.. and expect to be in business for long??

    Also, the other morning I went to my branch @ 10AM to be confronted with a hand written sign on the door saying "Closed until 10:30 to facilitate training".

    :mad:


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    #2
    dudara
    Registered Users Posts: 33,519 ✭✭✭✭dudara


    Moved to Banking & Insurance & Pensions


    dudara


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    #3
    Fighting Irish
    Registered Users Posts: 7,065 ✭✭✭Fighting Irish


    boboirl wrote: »
    Why are the general banks opening hours so rediculous?!?

    And their customers seem to put up with it....

    I mean come on, how many shops for example would only open from say 10 am to 4pm... with an hour closed for lunch.. and expect to be in business for long??

    Also, the other morning I went to my branch @ 10AM to be confronted with a hand written sign on the door saying "Closed until 10:30 to facilitate training".

    :mad:

    Sure we'll let you decide when they should open and close


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    #4
    boboirl
    Closed Accounts Posts: 69 ✭✭boboirl


    Fighting Irish wrote: »
    Sure we'll let you decide when they should open and close

    OK... 9 - 6 Monday to Friday with no closing for lunch :cool:


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    #5
    fobster
    Registered Users Posts: 947 ✭✭✭fobster


    Halifax open on Saturdays!



    Oh wait...


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    #6
    Dum_Dum
    Closed Accounts Posts: 587 ✭✭✭Dum_Dum


    They run the country, why should they do anything other than suck your blood out?


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    #7
    tommy21
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,419 ✭✭✭tommy21


    Very annoying. In fairness the staff are there at 9 or earlier and after 4pm but it takes times to get things up and running each day. The banks could well afford to pay them to come in earlier though and finish later in a staggered fashion.


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    #8
    Bogger77
    Registered Users Posts: 1,857 ✭✭✭Bogger77


    banks close at lunch? When did that start again?

    If the OP wants to see bank opening hours taking the p**s, try use a post office or bank in Spain after 2pm. Open earlier than here, closed a lot earlier than here.


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    #9
    Toots
    Administrators, Business & Finance Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 16,905 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭Toots


    I think certain smaller branches still close for lunch, not sure which ones though.


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    #10
    gogo
    Registered Users Posts: 1,452 ✭✭✭gogo


    Im sure its a security measure, when would be the best time to rob a bank, nine o clock in the morning would be perfect, not much traffic, easy eh 'parking', etc.
    There are so few reason why anyone needs to personally attend a bank any more, do you not use online banking? Anything else can be done by post/phone.
    Also you'll find its only small country branches that close at lunch, its not being brought back, its alway been that way, if there was enough custom for them to remain open, they would be open, also because of a small staff number, its not secure to stagger luch breaks.
    Also regarding the 10.30 training, its only half an hour later than usual opening hours, banking, especially in this climate is constantly updating procedures, mainly by the orders of the financial regulator, so training has to be done, bank staff work normal hours 9 to 5 (give or take) as it is, so why should they change the whole system, ie come in earlier, because you can't wait a measly half an hour?:rolleyes:


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    #11
    drakshug
    Registered Users Posts: 216 ✭✭drakshug


    I was shocked when I moved to Ireland. The banking situation is worse than the Baltics or the UK.
    If you are working, you can't get to a bank except at lunch time when it is full.
    I've been using online banking since it started but it doesn't let you change money, open a new account, sign HP forms for motors etc etc.
    Elsewhere you have banks open at 8 am til 6 and open on saturdays.
    Don't they need our business?


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    #12
    dotsman
    Registered Users Posts: 3,635 ✭✭✭dotsman


    drakshug wrote: »
    I've been using online banking since it started but it doesn't let you change money, open a new account, sign HP forms for motors etc etc.
    Not quite sure what you mean by "change money"?
    I can open new accounts via 24-hour banking.
    Never had to hire a tractor, so can't comment on that one!

    Banks are open business hours, because businesses are pretty much the only customers who "need" to go to a branch regularly.

    I "bank" everyday, yet have only ever needed to go to a branch once in god-knows-how-long (at least 6-7 years), and that was to apply for a mortgage.

    You have to remember that, compared to most other businesses, banking has great "opening hours". You can carry out 99.9% of your dealings 24-7 without ever having to go out of your way (ie you can do them from home, work, street, inside shops etc). It's only for the complex transactions that you actually need to go to a branch.


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    #13
    drakshug
    Registered Users Posts: 216 ✭✭drakshug


    Complex transactions like signing your car loan in front of a bank employee, exchanging that pesky foreign currency and actually getting an account due to the money laundering rules.
    Judging by the queues at lunchtime I can't be the only person trying to get to a bank during my lunch break. Saturday opening would be a boon.


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    #14
    unclebill98
    Registered Users Posts: 3,816 ✭✭✭unclebill98


    Talk to any Halifax worker. Saturdays are not a busy as you guys would think.

    This topic was just cover last week or so. There are plenty of reasons why banks open when then do. But times are changing. UB Georgre Quay opens from early in the morning and stays open till late at night 5 days a week. But demend in that area calls for it.

    Not all branches would be worth opening for longer and on saturdays. I do not agree with this 30 min training done by some banks.


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    #15
    unclebill98
    Registered Users Posts: 3,816 ✭✭✭unclebill98


    boboirl wrote: »
    OK... 9 - 6 Monday to Friday with no closing for lunch :cool:

    IMHO banks would work much better if they closed for lunch. At least all the staff could take lunch at the same time. Only problem is that there might be a q before closing so staff would not get the full hour.

    So they open for lunch, which then means staggered lunch breaks and this in turns cause delays and q's to build because staff numbers on the counter is reduced.

    Also, if you go to the bank at lunch be prepared for big q's.


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    #16
    dotsman
    Registered Users Posts: 3,635 ✭✭✭dotsman


    drakshug wrote: »
    Complex transactions like signing your car loan in front of a bank employee
    Not sure about this, I've never had to sign anything in front of anyone when it came to loans, not even my mortgage!
    drakshug wrote: »
    exchanging that pesky foreign currency
    How often do you have foreign currency you want to get rid of? I would generally spend the little foreign cash I had before returning to the Eurozone. Even if you do have foreign cash, why not hold onto it until the next time you travel there?
    drakshug wrote: »
    actually getting an account due to the money laundering rules.
    Maybe, but how often do you open accounts? Once you have one account open with a bank, you don't need to be present to open subsequent accounts.
    drakshug wrote: »
    Judging by the queues at lunchtime I can't be the only person trying to get to a bank during my lunch break. Saturday opening would be a boon.

    Unfortunately, the vast majority of the people queueing at lunch time don't actually need to be there. It's usually just down to laziness, lack of planning, ignorance, or a refusal to live in the modern age!


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    #17
    muggins2003
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8 ✭muggins2003


    it's nuts - same with the post office - that's why the queues are always mental. it's hard to believe that they shut an hour each day for lunch as well when the majority of people need to use them then!


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    #18
    Sofiztikated
    Registered Users Posts: 6,995 ✭✭✭Sofiztikated


    Here's a mental idea, just throwing it out there.

    If the lunch time is busy, why let the staff go on lunch at 1? Why not manage to have them either go earlier, and be back for 1, or go later, after the rush is over.

    Then again, I rarely have to go into the bank.


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    #19
    jaceq
    Closed Accounts Posts: 138 ✭✭jaceq


    Sofiztikated wrote: »
    Here's a mental idea, just throwing it out there.

    If the lunch time is busy, why let the staff go on lunch at 1? Why not manage to have them either go earlier, and be back for 1, or go later, after the rush is over.

    Then again, I rarely have to go into the bank.

    Well I presume it would be to modern and radical, in the end all those ladies have to chat with each other during lunch time and this is way more important than doing any business...


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    #20
    BuffyBot
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 24,924 Mod ✭✭✭✭BuffyBot


    If the lunch time is busy, why let the staff go on lunch at 1? Why not manage to have them either go earlier, and be back for 1, or go later, after the rush is over.

    Most, if not all branches, will stagger staff lunches.


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    #21
    Sofiztikated
    Registered Users Posts: 6,995 ✭✭✭Sofiztikated


    BuffyBot wrote: »
    Most, if not all branches, will stagger staff lunches.

    Yes, but they still let them go at peak period times.


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    #22
    aoraki
    Registered Users Posts: 126 ✭✭aoraki


    A lot of people seem to think that bank staff swan in the doors at 9.45ish each morning and are in the car home by 4.15 in the afternoon.

    When i worked in a financial institution many moons ago the working hours were from 9am to 5.30. If you got out by 6PM you'd be doing very well. On thursday when the branch closed at 5 you'd be doing well to be out by 6.30pm. Most mornings we were in before 9.

    As regards lunch, we used to stagger the taking of lunch breaks, but we also brought in a couple of lunch time staff that would only work from 11 til 2 to cover the lunch time period.

    Admittedly this was over 10 years ago, but I imagine not a lot has changed.

    But I agree that 10 to 4 is not ideal for customers, especially when they are closed for weekends.


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    #23
    unclebill98
    Registered Users Posts: 3,816 ✭✭✭unclebill98


    aoraki wrote: »
    A lot of people seem to think that bank staff swan in the doors at 9.45ish each morning and are in the car home by 4.15 in the afternoon.

    When i worked in a financial institution many moons ago the working hours were from 9am to 5.30. If you got out by 6PM you'd be doing very well. On thursday when the branch closed at 5 you'd be doing well to be out by 6.30pm. Most mornings we were in before 9.

    As regards lunch, we used to stagger the taking of lunch breaks, but we also brought in a couple of lunch time staff that would only work from 11 til 2 to cover the lunch time period.

    Admittedly this was over 10 years ago, but I imagine not a lot has changed.

    But I agree that 10 to 4 is not ideal for customers, especially when they are closed for weekends.


    Nope, pretty much the same as now.

    Its not fair to expect staff to come in at 9 and go on lunch at 12 or 3 o'clock.
    Like I said, opening for lunch is the problem. Staff are entitled to a lunch thats given at a fair time.


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    #24
    Sofiztikated
    Registered Users Posts: 6,995 ✭✭✭Sofiztikated


    unclebill98 wrote: »
    Nope, pretty much the same as now.

    Its not fair to expect staff to come in at 9 and go on lunch at 12 or 3 o'clock.
    Like I said, opening for lunch is the problem. Staff are entitled to a lunch thats given at a fair time.

    And why is 12 not a fair time? Or 2?


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    #25
    unclebill98
    Registered Users Posts: 3,816 ✭✭✭unclebill98


    Because you only started at nine? Even so, you still don't solve the issue. Staggered lunches cause the problem. 5 staff on counter, 2 have to at least go on lunch that over lap each other. Staff normally have to balance before lunch so it starts to cause delays and has a knock on effect.

    As mentioned, if you using the bank at its peak period expect to have to q. Same with any business you use. Go into a bank at 11am on a tuesday and its not going to be as busy as lunch time or on a friday afternoon.

    Even changing opening hours will not fix the issue. Going from a 4pm close to a 5pm or beyond close will still mean the same people will delay the time they go and your back to the same problem. Thats hardly the banks fault.

    People are iggnorant to this issue. Banks will have to change the opening hours. It will happen, but these issues will always remain.

    Best way to discribe it is like "Last orders" in a pub. You've been sitting there for maybe an hour or so before it happens. You still make a bee line for the bar and then stand there like a tool with everyone else thats rushing in, where maybe if you thought...ah last orders are coming i'll go a few mins earlier and get sorted. This carry on happens at a 12.30am to even when its a late bar.


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    #26
    jaceq
    Closed Accounts Posts: 138 ✭✭jaceq


    unclebill98 wrote: »
    Because you only started at nine? Even so, you still don't solve the issue. Staggered lunches cause the problem. 5 staff on counter, 2 have to at least go on lunch that over lap each other. Staff normally have to balance before lunch so it starts to cause delays and has a knock on effect.

    As mentioned, if you using the bank at its peak period expect to have to q. Same with any business you use. Go into a bank at 11am on a tuesday and its not going to be as busy as lunch time or on a friday afternoon.

    Even changing opening hours will not fix the issue. Going from a 4pm close to a 5pm or beyond close will still mean the same people will delay the time they go and your back to the same problem. Thats hardly the banks fault.

    People are iggnorant to this issue. Banks will have to change the opening hours. It will happen, but these issues will always remain.

    Best way to discribe it is like "Last orders" in a pub. You've been sitting there for maybe an hour or so before it happens. You still make a bee line for the bar and then stand there like a tool with everyone else thats rushing in, where maybe if you thought...ah last orders are coming i'll go a few mins earlier and get sorted. This carry on happens at a 12.30am to even when its a late bar.

    My point of view is following, bank is a business, I am a customer bringing money, I don't really care how it's all setup, I want a good service at reasonable hours (including lunch) and that's it!
    You can note that in other countries it is somehow possible to sort this out.


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    #27
    unclebill98
    Registered Users Posts: 3,816 ✭✭✭unclebill98


    jaceq wrote: »
    My point of view is following, bank is a business, I am a customer bringing money, I don't really care how it's all setup, I want a good service at reasonable hours (including lunch) and that's it!
    You can note that in other countries it is somehow possible to sort this out.

    Your right. The customer will get the opening hours, just don't expect the q's to go away cause the branch opens longer.


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    #28
    jaceq
    Closed Accounts Posts: 138 ✭✭jaceq


    unclebill98 wrote: »
    Your right. The customer will get the opening hours, just don't expect the q's to go away cause the branch opens longer.

    Again, long queues = poor service, and as I said I expect a good service.
    That's why I was with halifax, this was ONLY bank in Ireland in different league.


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    #29
    Spirit of time
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18 ✭Spirit of time


    In England it states on notes the value of it's currency....

    For example £20,£10 and so on....

    Has anybody actually asked the question 20 pounds of what???

    Like is it gold?!?...I think not!...Not silver....

    Can anybody enlighten me?


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    #30
    dotsman
    Registered Users Posts: 3,635 ✭✭✭dotsman


    jaceq wrote: »
    Again, long queues = poor service, and as I said I expect a good service.
    That's why I was with halifax, this was ONLY bank in Ireland in different league.

    The problem there was that Halifax had no queues because Halifax had no customers. Hence Halifax is now gone for this very reason.


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    #31
    stepbar
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,123 ✭✭✭stepbar


    jaceq wrote: »
    My point of view is following, bank is a business, I am a customer bringing money, I don't really care how it's all setup, I want a good service at reasonable hours (including lunch) and that's it!
    You can note that in other countries it is somehow possible to sort this out.

    But yet complain when you have to pay for it :rolleyes:

    I think you'll find that "other" countries charge significantly more in fees. Ask anyone in the UK what happens if they use an unauthorised overdraft.....


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