Ulster Bank: six out of ten transactions online or mobile

Almost 60 per cent - or 154 million - of Ulster Bank's transactions were carried out via mobile and online devices last year, according to its Sustainable Banking report.

The report, which was launched on Monday, also said Ulster Bank invested €1,061,000 in local communities, while there was a 500 per cent increase in its workforce's professional qualifications.

In addition, some 18,000 new basic bank accounts were opened.

Touch ID enabled customers to access their accounts using a fingerprint; and two new mobile apps for iPad and Blackberry were launched in 2015.

In terms of the funding for local communities, employee giving in 2015 reached €432,000 via the bank’s One Week in June campaign; €171,500 via the Community Cash Back scheme; €151,675 via payroll giving; and €300,000 through the Skills and Opportunities fund. Some 8,611 hours were volunteered.

The bank delivered 604 – an increase of over 15 per cent on 2014 – MoneySense financial education lessons; supported 115 companies with Quickstart; and funded a dedicated portal for entrepreneurs smallbusinesscan.com.

It also invested €770,000 in learning and development that saw a 500 per cent increase in professional qualifications via New Horizons.

Ulster Bank Interim chief executive Paul Stanley said: "We are very proud of our achievements regarding our progress to building a sustainable business. But we're not complacent."