Bank Cancels Titillating Promotion 12
In an attempt to teach safe depositing practices, students at the Institute of Technology Tallaght in south Dublin were offered tickets to attend an "exotic" show for opening a new account with Ulster Bank. After parents accused the bank of "stooping to a new low" to attract young customers, and a women's group raised concerns, the bank canceled the promotion. "In line with Ulster Bank's ongoing support for student events across the country, we can confirm that as part of our student campaign in IT Tallaght we promoted a freshers' week event to be held at the Metro bar. Ulster Bank has no involvement in the organisation of this event and once the nature of the event was realised, the bank immediately withdrew any association with the event," said a spokeswoman.
Notablye but not atypical (Score:2)
Banks in Ireland usually troll university campuses in Ireland during the first weeks of the term, looking to reel in a good few first year students. They typically offer all kinds of sweeteners to go with their account; mobile phone credit, tickets, often cold hard cash. Ulster Bank are particularly keen to attract students, as they're looking to expand their position relative to the larger banks; Bank of Ireland and Allied Irish Bank.
People may think Ireland is a conservative country, but the Celtic Tiger
Re:Notablye (sic) but not atypical (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
The "Celtic Tiger" is dead
That doesn't mean those heady years haven't had an impact on the culture.
Re: (Score:2)
This is true ... and the rapid abandonment by corporations is having a huge negative impact now, after people abandoned their caution and took part in the global debt frenzy. They'd be better off financially now if the Celtic Tiger had never happened. At least they would better afford to drink their sorrows away.
We're all paying for the last decade's foolishness, and so will the next generation.
Re: (Score:2)
We're all paying for the last decade's foolishness, and so will the next generation.
I'm sure you had a point about culture in this somewhere and aren't just commenting on financial shennanigans. However, I'm failing to find it.
Re: (Score:2)
The whole last decade of stupidity was caused by a culture of greed, entitlement, and short-sightedness. A culture that encouraged the mindset that you don't have to actually produce something of value, just load up on debt and pretend you're an "investor." The millions
Re: (Score:2)
But yes, it's a reference to the moral and social decay that allowed a whole nation to destroy their economic future in what devolved into a get-rich-quick Ponzi scheme.
Nice rant aside, you're not actually claiming that Ireland has changed it's cultural attitude nor denying that the "Celtic Tiger" period had an effect on it.
Re: (Score:2)
"drinking at 18 isn't failry permissive"
When I was 18 it _was_ the drinking age (this is in NY). Land of the free my ass.
Re: (Score:2)
It's not specific to Ireland. It's also fairly common in Canada for Banks, Credit Card Companies, and Car financing companies to do a heavy sales pitch at universities during the first few weeks.
Re: (Score:2)
I'd be fairly surprised to find a contry which has both a higher education system and a banking system, which did not have an annual rush to sign up as many as possible of this year's crop of freshers.
OK, plausible circumstances where there wouldn't be a rush - if there's no once-per-year rush of people leaving comp