Mr. Gavin Kelly:

As I said earlier, at the moment 70% are coming in digitally and 50% of those received their account number on the day they opened the account, which is a really important first step for customers and it gives them confidence because they need that account number for salaries, etc. as they move.

Earlier I mentioned that we have 2,500 colleagues already in our branch network and contact centres. We overlap with most of the Ulster Bank locations that are closing, as in over 80 of them. Today, we have Bank of Ireland staff present in Ulster Bank branches in Blanchardstown and Eyre Square, and tomorrow in Patrick Street Ulster Bank, actually opening accounts and giving information on Bank of Ireland accounts. They are already up and running and live. We will continue to support Ulster Bank in the various different spots that it feels sit needs extra support in and we will put staff in. Specifically, we put in an extra 50 resources to make sure that we kept appointment wait times for customers down to a minimum and, if at all possible, accommodate them there and then. We are putting those 50 resources in to be on the road, and to respond and meet customers at their homes or businesses where a little bit of extra help is required. It is an important point to call.

We have spoke a lot about consumers here today. Small businesses were affected by this matter as well. There are quite a number of small business current accounts in the banks, and in Ulster Bank in particular, that are closing. We have found that a small business customer requires a bit more help and wants to meet face to face. We are increasing the number that are going into the branches by another 50 and we have already increased our contact centres by 100 resources.

Again, depending on what we see and where we see demand, we will make sure that we are flexible and meet those requirements. The demand to do things digitally is starting to increase beyond just the opening of accounts. We are already building multiple product application forms. What does that mean? Digitally, one can apply now for an overdraft, credit card and deposit accounts all on the one form and we will deploy that in a number of weeks' time.

This is all about trying to react as customers come in and see what the demand is. What we are going through is unprecedented and it is really important that we are flexible in terms of how we develop.