Bank of Ireland update on its Ukrainian humanitarian response

Tuesday, 31 May 2022 – Bank of Ireland has supported Ukrainian people arriving in Ireland and the UK since the unacceptable invasion of their country. Our thoughts are with the Ukrainian people as they build new lives for their families.

In recent weeks Bank of Ireland has continued to step up its supports for the Ukrainian people in the following ways:

• Over 1,000 new bank accounts have been opened for recently arrived Ukrainians in Ireland. To make the account application process as easy as possible, Bank of Ireland colleagues have proactively visited accommodation centres across Ireland to support Ukrainians with their applications. The Bank has also translated key application forms and support guides into Ukrainian and Russian, which are also available on Bank of Ireland’s dedicated Ukrainian Hub website. To better support our new Ukrainian customers up to 38 new colleagues with Ukrainian and Russian language skills are also being recruited.
• €170,000 in new donations to charities working with Ukrainians in Ireland and the UK including the Community Foundation for Ireland and the Disaster’s Emergency Committee. Bank of Ireland colleagues were given the option to donate part of their pay with the Bank matching funds raised. As part of this effort £22,000 was donated by Bank of Ireland UK colleagues. These donations bring Bank of Ireland’s total amount donated to support the Ukrainian response to over €270,000.
• A second volunteer day has been granted to all c8,700 Bank of Ireland colleagues to provide a second day of paid leave in 2022 to work with charities supporting Ukrainians both abroad and in our communities.
• A Bank of Ireland Ukrainian family host network has been established so that colleagues hosting Ukrainians in their homes can support each other.

These updates build upon previously announced actions including:

• Refunding Bank of Ireland charges for customers sending money to family, friends or colleagues in Ukraine and Moldova.
• Applying all enhanced international banking sanctions that have been introduced since the invasion commenced, and Bank of Ireland stands ready to do more as directed by the international regulatory and political response.

Aoife Leonard, Director, Distribution Channels at Retail Ireland and Chair of Bank of Ireland’s Ukraine Taskforce, said, “Bank of Ireland has made it a priority to support Ukrainians escaping the horrors of war and who have relocated to Ireland and the UK. At a time when Ukrainians are dealing with all the issues that comes with rebuilding a new life in a new country, our goal is to ensure that access to financial services shouldn’t be a problem. I am also proud of the reaction of Bank of Ireland colleagues who have offered time, money and their homes to support the humanitarian effort. Bank of Ireland will continue to closely monitor the humanitarian response and work with the relevant authorities to provide additional supports.”