Customer success stories
- Alan Simpson, Owner and Managing Director of Toytown
One business which has successfully secured a loan from Bank of Ireland UK via the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) is Newtownards based independent Toy retailer SMF Ltd who trade as Toytown.
Toytown is a family run business which marked forty years in business in 2019. It is one of the largest independent toy retailers in the UK and Ireland with 200 staff working across their 29 stores, including seven outlets in Northern Ireland. An eighth store is scheduled to open in Lisnagelvin, Derry/Londonderry in August.
Pictured at Toytown in Newtownards is Alan Simpson, owner and Managing Director of Toytown, Gavin Kennedy, Head of Business Banking (NI), Bank of Ireland UK and Paul McClurg, Head of Belfast Business Banking, Bank of Ireland UK. Read full article here
- Wall City Brewery
The Walled City Brewery launched its first ever gin in March this year, just ahead of lockdown. Earhart Gin is named after the aviator Amelia Earhart, who landed north of Derry/Londonderry in 1932. Pictured is James Huey, co-founder of the Walled City Brewery with Ian Stone, Relationship Manager, Bank of Ireland UK.
Pictured outside the newly opened Abbey Centre store in Belfast is Aaron McAuley, business manager, Bank of Ireland UK with owner and managing director of Toytown, Alan Simpson
- Bank of Ireland Begin Together Awards 2020 - Recognising the spirit of enterprise
Pictured with the award (L-R) is: Colleen Casey, Bank of Ireland UK Banbridge branch manager, Donna Harrison, Via Wings General Manager, Lynda Surgenor, Via Wings PR & Marketing Administrator, Kate Anderson, Via Wings Support Worker and Niall Devlin, Head of Business Banking Northern Ireland, Bank of Ireland UK. 
Pictured with the award (L-R) are: Gavin Kennedy, Bank of Ireland UK; Eamonn Connolly, Newry BID MD; Peter Murray, Newry BID Board Chair and Centre Manager, Buttercrane Shopping Centre and Paul Slevin, Bank of Ireland UK Newry branch manager. 
Pictured with the award (L-R) is: Pat Blake, Interim Chair of Enniskillen BID and local business owner, Andy Palmer, Bank of Ireland UK Enniskillen branch manager, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council Chair, Cllr Chris Smyth, Linda Walsh, Bank of Ireland UK business manager and Tracey McCallan, Town Centre Recovery for Fermanagh and Omagh District Council. Read the full article here.
- Bank of Ireland UK enables investment and expansion at Hillcrest Farm in County Antrim
Pictured in front of the new Free Range Poultry Unit at Hillcrest Farm, Cloughmills, County Antrim is owner Gareth Smyth (centre) along with Richard Primrose, Agri Manager NI and Tommy Doherty, Relationship Manager both from Bank of Ireland UK. Read the full article here.