The Irish Postmasters Union (IPU) today called on the Government to give them a role in the reorganisation of the banking sector.
General secretary Brian McGann said as post offices are already providing bank transactions they should become a "channel of choice" for reformed banking and financial transaction services in areas where the main banks do not have branches.
Mr McGann said the post office network of 1,100 branches can provide the public with access to banking transaction services "across the length and breadth of the country".
"The post office network is larger than the 900 branches held by AIB, BoI, NIB, TSB and Ulster Bank combined - this means that post offices have the greatest capacity of any provider in the country to deliver financial services," he said.
The call comes after the Government announced plans for a major overhaul of the banking sector and AIB said it would seek to reduce the number of branches it holds.
Mr McGann said role of the post office in keeping services available in local communities will help "maintain employment in these areas by providing additional services".