Locals in Ferbane, Co Offaly will take to the streets this afternoon to protest the closure of Ulster Bank in the town.

The bank announced a number of weeks ago that it would be closing the branch in March 2015.

Ulster Bank is currently the only banking facility in the town.

It says customers will have to use the branches in Athlone, which is 20kms away.

Local businesses say the round trip, including banking time, would cost them close to two hours per day.

It was announced earlier this month that 47 jobs were to go with the closure of a number of Ulster Bank branches.

While staff at the bank are to get pay increases under a two year deal - which include pay rises for 2015, and a lump sum payment for all staff below managerial level.

Diarmuid Guinan is one of the organisers of the protest.