The Chief Executive Officer of an Aboriginal corporation in Tennant Creek has labelled Westpac’s sudden closure of its branch as an abandonment of the Barkly’s Indigenous community.

Papulu Apparr-Kari Aboriginal Corporation (PAK) has been a long-time customer of Westpac, also helping out its Indigenous customers without identification to use its bank services.

PAK CEO Karan Hayward said Westpac was the only bank in Tennant Creek which accepted PAK’s certified identification for Aboriginal people.

Now the sudden closure means the only way to access Westpac services is via Tennant Creek’s Australia Post Office, which doesn’t recognise the ID.

Also compounding banking issues in Tennant Creek are the limited hours services are open. The only other branch in town is ANZ.

ANZ Bank is only open from 9am to 1.30pm weekdays, while the Post Office is open from 8-10am and 2pm-4.30pm weekdays.

The departure of Westpac means ANZ and Australia Post are dealing with a higher volume of customers seeking bank services.

Ms Hayward says Barkly residents haven given Westpac loyal service and they have left nothing behind for them.

“Westpac says they are an Indigenous banking system and has also claimed they didn’t have enough customers,” she said.

“But for weeks now there were only three customers allowed in at a time with long queues to get in, what does that show?

“Westpac has not done the right thing by the people of Tennant Creek who deserve a stable banking system.

“It’s our money in your bank – we are already socially disadvantaged and now we are even more disadvantaged.

“We can’t even call anyone who knows about our situation we have to talk to people overseas who don’t even know where Tennant Creek is!”

Ms Hayward says it has caused problems for many businesses and organisations in the town.

“We have had to stop taking cash payments because having cash on the premises means a high risk of being broken into,” she said.

“With our people not being able to access bank services, I fear the break and enters will rise with people looking for cash money to get by. Westpac is treating us like second class citizens.”

A Westpac spokesperson said they had made the difficult decision to close the Tennant Creek branch due to ongoing difficulties in finding staff to keep it open, coupled with our customers choosing different ways to bank with us and a decline in customer usage of the branch.

“We’re now working with our partners and our customers to help customers continue to bank locally via Bank@Post in the nearby Australia Post,” he said.

“Our Indigenous Connections Team will also be implementing a program of on-the-ground educational support for the Tennant Creek community.

“Westpac uses this service to support Australia’s most remote communities and assist First Nations customers.

“The team will work closely with the local Australia Post and offer personalised support to customers using Bank@ Post.

“Tennant Creek Post Shop is also just 240 metres away from our current branch. We’re also committed to maintaining an ATM presence in Tennant Creek.”

Ms Hayward said the Barkly has one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation, and Westpac should have looked at training local Indigenous people to work at the branch. “Westpac should have been training our mob to take these jobs on so our population can stop being on welfare and taking on positions in town.

“And as for the promise of Westpac providing an ATM, what will happen when a card is swallowed? Or the building is rented?”

Ms Hayward suggested a community meeting should be held with all interested parties to find a solution.

This article appeared in Tennant & District Times, 23 September 2022.