THE main banking union in Britain, Bifu, gave a cautious welcome to the takeover, saying it looked forward to a better relationship with the Bank of Ireland than it had had with the Bristol & West.
Area organiser Ms Meg Crack said: "We do not expect there to be job losses or branch closures - quite the opposite in fact."
She added: "Bristol & West has traditionally been very hostile to trade union representation - which isn't the case in the Bank of Ireland.
"We will be pressing for Bristol & West staff to have equal treatment with their Irish colleagues, and we hope for a big improvement in industrial relations.
"We have a long established relationship with the Irish Bank Officials' Association and look forward to the new challenge." The Bristol & West has about 2,200 employees, compared with 12,000 for the Bank of Ireland.
Under the takeover plans Mr John Burke and Lord Armstrong will join the court (board) of directors of the Bank of Ireland.
Lord Armstrong, chairman of the Bristol & West, said: "Joining the bank will strengthen our ability to offer our customers a wide range of competitively priced mortgage, savings and investment products with the full backing of a strong parent company, whilst retaining the values which Bristol & West has traditionally upheld."
