Westpac Benalla will shut its doors permanently after bank bosses made a decision to desert regional customers in 22 locations across Australia.
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Following quickly on the heels of a slap-on-the-wrist from the Banking Royal Commission, many customers feel the move is nothing more than a knee-jerk response.
Although in reality, High St branches of many banks, particularly in regional areas, have seen a fraction of face-to-face customer interactions compared to previous years.
Unfortunately for a community such as Benalla, that reduced traffic still relies on their local branch to do their banking.
Benalla is one of eight branches in Victoria earmarked for closure, the others being Kangaroo Flat, Rosanna, Lalor, Bulleen, Corio, Altona Gate and Balaclava.
The decision has led to condemnation of the bank from locals in Benalla whose opinions are shared by the Financial Sector Union (FSU).
FSU national secretary Julia Angrisano said the decision indicated that Westpac cared more about profits than people.
‘‘Now should be the time that banks turn their attention to rebuilding public trust, but closing branches is a kick in the guts for the community,’’ Ms Angrisano said.
‘‘We know how hard the loss of a branch hits local residents, particularly the elderly and Westpac has left them in the lurch.
‘‘These closures will also impact on local businesses.’’
‘‘And we know in some parts of Australia, the 76 bank workers affected by these closures could find it difficult to get another job,’’ Ms Angrisano said.
When The Ensign shared the story the day it broke via Facebook a quarter of the comments were from Westpac customers who said they would now change banks.
Many of the others were far from impressed.
Ms Dorothy de Wit said she felt the bank cared more about profits than customers.
Leanne Hind agreed, saying ‘‘Here we go again profit over people’’.
Many others agreed, while some simply went with an ‘‘angry reaction’’.
The Ensign spoke with a long-time Westpac Customer, who asked not to be named, on what she planned to do.
Despite being upset she said she did not want to change banks and hoped community pressure would convince those in charge of Westpac to change their minds.
‘‘I’m really quite upset to hear about this as I live in Euroa and work in Benalla,’’ she said.
‘‘There’s no Westpac in Euroa, so the only place I can do my banking is in Benalla.
‘‘The only place I do banking is at Westpac.
‘‘The only place I can withdraw cash without a charge is from a Westpac ATM.
‘‘My only other option is to take a trip to Shepparton or Wangaratta, which is not easy.
‘‘I could make the trip on a Saturday or Sunday, but the Shepp branch is closed on the weekend.
‘‘I’ve had my Westpac bank account since I was 18. Maybe even before as my parents opened an account in my name before I was 18. I’ve never banked with anyone else.’’
She said it came as a huge shock to hear it was closing.
‘‘It was never something I expected to happen and the fact there are no other branches in a close radius I would imagen that the Benalla branch is needed in the local community,’’ she said.
‘‘It’s not too bad when one shuts down in Melbourne as there would be another in the next suburb. But in the country we don’t have that.
‘‘I don’t know what I’m going to do.
‘‘It caught me off guard, so I’ll have to consider my options.
‘‘I’ve been a loyal customer for years and don’t want to close my account.
‘‘I suppose I hope that when they see the problems this is causing to the community that they will change their minds.
‘‘The best option would be that the branch didn’t close at all.’’
One person who is sure about what they plan to do is long-term Westpac customer and former employee Freda Battersby.
She plans to do her banking with one of Westpac’s competitors on Bridge St.
‘‘It is a sad day to know that Westpac, formerly the Bank of NSW, will close soon. It has been there since 1873,’’ Ms Battersby said.
‘‘It’s Benalla’s oldest bank branch and I’ve been banking with Westpac for 66 years. I’m also a former staff member.
‘‘I started with the bank in 1953.
‘‘Female bank tellers were unknown in the Bank of NSW then, so the position was new to me and the bank.
‘‘I was full-time until 1963 when I resigned from the position before returning in a part-time capacity in 1981.
‘‘Soon after the bank changed to Westpac.
‘‘In my time I worked in many branches, and a few of those have closed over the years.
‘‘I’ve been banking with Westpac Benalla ever since I moved here and I had hoped it wouldn’t be one that closed.
‘‘But it turns out that it is. It’s a sad day knowing that after 146 years in Benalla that branch will on longer be there.’’
Westpac Benalla were approached for comment but did not reply prior to publication.
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