We are withdrawing from the SME commercial market in Great Britain

Frequently Asked Questions

• Why has Allied Irish Bank (GB) decided to withdraw from providing certain banking services to businesses Great Britain?

  Following a comprehensive strategic review, we have decided to withdraw all current account, deposit and credit card products that we currently provide to small-to-medium business customers in Great Britain.

  We will continue to provide full banking services to Corporate customers and we will continue to provide Asset Finance, Invoice Discounting and Merchant Services to all business customers.

• I have Asset Finance and Invoice Discounting facilities with Allied Irish Bank (GB) – will these facilities be impacted?

  No. We will continue to provide Asset Finance and Invoice Discounting facilities to new and existing customers.

  The only products we are withdrawing are business current accounts, business deposits and business credit cards.

• What is the impact on your Merchant Services business?

  There is no impact on our Merchant Services business - we will continue to provide Merchant Services to new and existing customers.

• What impact will this decision have on my business current account?

  As soon as possible and before 20 December 2022, you will need to open a business current account with an alternative banking provider.

  If you wish to use the Current Account Switch Service:
  If you have fewer than 50 employees and an annual turnover not exceeding £6.5 million then your new bank will be able to use the Current Account Switch Service www.currentaccountswitch.co.uk, which will ensure the smooth transfer of your current account with Allied Irish Bank (GB)  to them. Your balance and your incoming and outgoing payments, including any direct debits and standing orders, will be automatically transferred to your new bank account. If your account is in overdraft you will need to credit your account with the funds to cover this before the switch can take place.

  If you use the partial Current Account Switch Service, your AIB account will remain open. To close your account, you will need to send us a written instruction signed in line with the AIB signing instructions on your account and should include your Allied Irish Bank (GB) sort code and account number. Please email your instructions to our Closure Support Team CST@aib.ie or post to the Closure Support Team, AIB, 92 Ann Street, Belfast BT1 3HH.

  If you do not wish to use the Current Account Switch Service:

  If you don’t wish to use the Current Account Switch Service, or if you are not eligible to use it, then you will need to send us a written instruction before 20 December 2022 telling us where to transfer your account balance to.

  This instruction needs to be signed in line with the AIB signing instructions on your account and should include your Allied Irish Bank (GB) sort code and account number as well as the sort code and account number of the nominated account you want us to transfer the balance of your Allied Irish Bank (GB) account to. Please email your instructions to our Closure Support Team CST@aib.ie or post to the Closure Support Team, AIB, 92 Ann Street, Belfast BT1 3HH.

  If your account is in overdraft you will need to credit your account with the funds to cover this.

  On receipt of your written instruction, we will transfer the balance of your Allied Irish Bank (GB) current account to your nominated account.  We will also provide you with a closing statement after we have closed your account.

  Once your account is closed all direct debits/standing orders will cease to be paid from the date of closure.

  Please contact us, in the next 30 days, if you are having difficulty in opening an account with an alternative banking provider, or if you are unable to find an alternative banking provider willing to provide you with an overdraft equivalent to your current overdrawn balance at Allied Irish Bank (GB).

• I have a personal current account with Allied Irish Bank (GB) – will my personal account also be closed?

  No. We will continue to provide banking services to our personal customers – any personal accounts you have with us will continue to operate as normal.

• I am a business customer. Will I be entitled to any refund of fees as a result of having to close my account?

  We will ensure that any fees already paid, that cover a period beyond the date that you close your current account, are refunded to you, before your account is closed.

• I have a number of business accounts with Allied Irish Bank (GB), including Current Accounts, Deposit Accounts and Business Credit Card accounts – will these all be impacted?

  We have written to all impacted customers. Our letter explains the actions that you should take if you have any of the following accounts types:

  Account Type	Product Names
  Business Current Accounts, including accounts with and without overdrafts.	Business Current Account, Client Account, Cheque Standard Account and Excluded Business Current Account
  Deposit Accounts	Demand Deposit Account
  Fixed Term Deposit Accounts	Fixed Term Deposit
  Business Credit Cards	Visa Business Card and Visa Business Gold Card
  Currency Account	Currency Account

• I have BACS facilities set up on my business current account, what do I need to do?

  Once you have opened a business current account at your new bank you should then request your new bank to transfer any BACS facilities from Allied Irish Bank (GB) to your new current account with them.
  
  Our BACS support team will assist you in transferring BACS Service User Numbers to your new bank.  You can contact them by calling 01604 235515 or by emailing bacssupport@aib.ie.

• I am a Direct Debit Originator, how will the closing of my Allied Irish Bank (GB) current account impact me?

  You will need to open a current account with your new bank and you should then ask your new bank to commence the process for transferring any existing DDs collected by you to your new bank.

  Your new bank will use a standard process to transfer your BACS Service User Number (SUN) from Allied Irish Bank (GB) to them, after which they will become your sponsoring bank.  

  Please note that it is much quicker to transfer your existing SUN to your new bank than to have a new SUNs set-up by your new banking provider.

• Will my IBB be cancelled (after closure date) if I have not managed to set up a new bank account? I have salaries to pay and suppliers etc.

  Will my IBB be cancelled (after closure date) if I have not managed to set up a new bank account? I have salaries to pay and suppliers etc.

• Will my Post Office ® facility be cancelled if I haven’t re-banked? I still need access to cash / Lodgements etc.

  Your Post Office® services will continue to work until your account has closed.

  It is important that you contact us as soon as possible if you are having any difficulty in opening an account at an alternative bank to allow us to work with you.

  Where additional time is required then we will keep your account open and your existing Post Office® services will continue to be available to you.

• What will happen to my Overdraft?

  You should arrange an equivalent overdraft with your new bank to allow you to pay off your overdraft with Allied Irish Bank (GB). This will allow us to release any security we hold relating to your Allied Irish Bank (GB) overdraft.

  Please contact us if you are having difficulty in arranging an equivalent overdraft with your new bank or if you are unable to clear your overdraft with us.

• Will you delete my data held under data protection, on your systems / in your files?

  To meet our legal and regulatory obligations, we hold your information while you are a customer and for a period of time after that. We do not hold it for longer than necessary. Any data we hold on you will be deleted in line with our Data retention timelines.  Please read our Data Protection Notice for additional information.

• Will you release any security that you hold when my account is closed?

  We will release any security that we hold once the loan/overdraft that the security was required for is paid off in full.

• I have approached a number of banks, but so far I have not been able to open a current account with them. Will you keep my account open to allow me to find an alternative banking provider?

  We will work with you to understand the difficulties you are facing and to see how we can help you, including providing you with additional time to allow you to open an account with an alternative banking provider.

• I have a Fixed Term Deposit account with you - what do I need to do?

  As soon as possible and before 20 December 2022 you will need to send us a written instruction telling us where to transfer your account balance to.

  This instruction needs to be signed in line with the AIB signing instructions on your account and should include your Allied Irish Bank (GB) sort code and account number as well as the sort code and account number of the nominated account you want us to transfer the balance of your Allied Irish Bank (GB) account to. Please email your instructions to our Closure Support Team CST@aib.ie or post to the Closure Support Team, AIB, 92 Ann Street, Belfast BT1 3HH.

  If you wish to close your deposit account before 20 December 2022, please include the date that you wish the account to be closed in your instructions to us and we will close your account. We will transfer the balance of your account, along with any interest up to the original maturity date of your Fixed Term Deposit account, to your nominated account, soon after 20 December 2022, or at an earlier date if instructed by you.

  We will provide you with a closing statement after your account has been closed.

• I have a Fixed Term Deposit account which is not due to mature until 2024. Will I be charged any early breakage fees or lose out on any interest if I close my account earlier?

  We will not charge you any early breakage fees and we will pay you the full interest due to you based on the current maturity date on the account.

  As soon as possible and before 20 December 2022 you will need to send us a written instruction telling us where to transfer your account balance to.

  This instruction needs to be signed in line with the AIB signing instructions on your account and should include your Allied Irish Bank (GB) sort code and account number as well as the sort code and account number of the nominated account you want us to transfer the balance of your Allied Irish Bank (GB) account to. Please email your instructions to our Closure Support Team CST@aib.ie or post to the Closure Support Team, AIB, 92 Ann Street, Belfast BT1 3HH.

  If you wish to close your deposit account before 20 December 2022, please include the date that you wish the account to be closed in your instructions to us and we will close your account. We will transfer the balance of your account, along with any interest up to the original maturity date of your Fixed Term Deposit account, to your nominated account, soon after 20 December 2022, or at an earlier date if instructed by you.

  We will provide you with a closing statement after your account has been closed.

• I have a Demand Deposit Account what do I need to do?

  As soon as possible and before 20 December 2022 you will need to send us a written instruction telling us where to transfer your account balance to.

  This instruction needs to be signed in line with the AIB signing instructions on your account and should include your Allied Irish Bank (GB) sort code and account number as well as the sort code and account number of the nominated account you want us to transfer the balance of your Allied Irish Bank (GB) account to. Please email your instructions to our Closure Support Team CST@aib.ie or post to the Closure Support Team, AIB, 92 Ann Street, Belfast BT1 3HH.

  If you wish to close your deposit account before 20 December 2022, please include the date that you wish the account to be closed in your instructions to us and we will close your account. We will transfer the balance of your account, along with any interest, to your nominated account, soon after 20 December 2022, or at an earlier date if instructed by you.

  We will provide you with a closing statement after your account has been closed.

• I have a Business Credit Card account with you - what do I need to do?

  You should open a Credit Card account with an alternative banking provider before 20 December 2022.

  If you only hold a Business Credit Card with Allied Irish Bank (GB) and no other business accounts, you will need to provide a written instruction to us requesting the card to be closed. Please send this instruction to: Business Cards, Card Operations, AIB, 92 Ann Street, Belfast BT1 3HH.

  If you are due a partial refund of any annual fees relating to your Business Credit Card, we will refund these to your Business Credit Card Account following closure.

  Please do not cancel the monthly Direct Debit that is used to pay off the balance of your Allied Irish Bank (GB) Business Credit Card Account until 20 December 2022.

  All cardholders on your Business Credit Card Accounts should be advised that the account will be closed, and they will no longer be able to use the associated credit cards once the card has been closed.

  Any benefits associated with your Business Credit Card, including for example AA Membership, Priority Pass will be automatically removed when the Business Credit Card Account.

  If you pay regular bills through your Business Credit Card (for example, utilities, phone, or TV subscriptions) you will need to contact these companies to arrange an alternative way to pay before your Credit Card Account is closed.

• You have advised that my Business Credit Card Accounts will close. A number of my staff have cards on this account – how will they be impacted?

  When your Business Credit Card Account is closed all Credit Cards on the account will cease to work and all the benefits associated with having an Allied Irish Bank (GB) Business Credit Card will be immediately cancelled.

  You should advise any staff that are using a Business Credit Card on your Business Credit Card Account as follows:

  (a) Their cards will cease to work on the date that the Business Credit Card Account is closed.

  (b) Any benefits associated with Allied Irish Bank (GB) Business Credit Cards, including for example AA Membership, Priority Pass will be automatically removed when the Business Credit Card Account is closed.

  (c) If their Allied Irish Bank (GB) Business Credit Card is used to make regular payments (for example, utilities, phone, or TV subscriptions) they will need to contact these companies to arrange an alternative way to pay from the date that your Business Credit Card account is closed by you or by us.

• I have an outstanding disputed transaction on my Business Credit Card Account. How will you ensure that any refunds due to me after my Credit Card account are paid to me?

  If any credits/refunds are received after your Business Credit Card has closed, we will contact you to agree how to pay these to you.

• How can I access a PAYLINK form?

  You can access a paylink form here.

• I have a foreign currency account with Allied Irish Bank (GB) will this account be impacted?

  You will need to send us a completed PAYLINK form to close this account.

  You can access a paylink form here.

  Please download, print, complete and sign. Please email your completed form to our Customer Support Team CST@aib.ie or post to Customer Support Team, AIB, 92 Ann Street, Belfast BT1 3HH