'Against the ethos' - Decision to slash Mayo Credit Union hours slammed

A Mayo county councillor has condemned the decision to significantly reduce the opening hours of five local credit union branches without consulting their members.

Alma Gallagher, a councillor for Fine Gael, has called for action following the decision from First Choice Credit Union, who run the Achill, Balla,  Ballyhaunis, Swinford, and Kiltimagh credit unions.

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Four of the five credit unions have been reduced to a three-day working week. The Balla branch has been reduced to a one-day week.

Cllr Gallagher noted that a sign placed on the front door of the Ballyhaunis branch stated ‘with effect from 14th of June 2025 we are changing our Business Hours for our Balla, Ballyhaunis, Kiltimagh and Swinford Branches’.

In a statement, the Ballyhaunis native called for the facilitation of a meeting between First Choice Credit Union and the Ballyhaunis Chamber of Commerce for dialogue and transparency, and to reverse the decision.

“The decision goes against the ethos of what Credit Unions represent,”  she 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.”

Per the organisation’s accounts last year, the credit union held over €267 million in assets and had over 40,000 members by the end of 2024.