As our immediate community comes to terms with the Bendigo and Adelaide Banks’ decision to rip bank services from Barham, Cohuna and Pyramid Hill, three of 16 agency closures the Better Big Bank is implementing, the Finance Sector Union (FSU) is calling on the major banks to stop closing bank branches in metropolitan and regional areas while a Senate Inquiry into Regional Branch Closures is underway.

As more branches were identified for closure, FSU National Secretary Julia Angrisano said the National Australia Bank was refusing to pause regional branch closures.

“The NAB’s behaviour is outrageous, completely out of step with community expectations and in breach of its social license,” Ms Angrisano said.

The FSU stated NAB refuses to acknowledge community concerns and has announced branches at Jeparit and Inverloch in Victoria will close. Branches at Boonah, Qld and Queanbeyan, NSW will also be shut down. Each NAB branch will close in July.

In addition, the CBA has notified the FSU it will close branches at Bull Creek in WA and Aspley, Qld in June with the loss of 12 jobs.

ANZ has notified the FSU it will close Clarkson in WA, Patterson Lakes in Victoria and Lane Cove in NSW with the loss of 15 jobs in June.

Both the CBA and ANZ have committed to pausing regional closures while the Inquiry continues.

“The major banks are making massive profits and yet they continue to shut down branches and they don’t care about customers and businesses who are impacted by these closures,” Ms Angrisano said.

“The morale of bank workers is at rock bottom as they wait to hear if their branch and their job is on the hit list.

“The FSU believes the banks should be compelled to pause all closures, in metropolitan and regional areas, while the Senate Inquiry is underway.

“All Australians deserve to have access to the full range of financial services no matter where they live.”

Back at home, the Koondrook Barham Lions have penned a letter to Shaun Leech, Regional Manager of Bendigo and Adelaide Banks.

Dear Sir,

I refer to your letter of 14th April concerning the closure of the Barham Branch of the Bendigo Bank, and advise that this matter was discussed at our Club’s Business Meeting of the 17th April 2023. As a result, I now wish to convey the following sentiments of our club to the Bendigo and Adelaide Bank management.

It is ironic that in 2015 we last wrote to the management of the Westpac Bank in respect to a similar situation, and in fact this is the reason why we changed our bank to Bendigo Bank. But it seems all banks are created equal when it comes to putting profits ahead of service, and their lack of consideration and empathy for the people who rely on face-to-face banking.  

We are pragmatic enough to recognise that banks exist for the sole purpose of making obscene profits for their fortunate shareholders. But surely, somewhere, does there exist in your organisation a small shred of corporate conscience that might say, well, perhaps we owe the multitude of small rural towns a bit of credit for our current successful market position. Does that corporate conscience say perhaps we should accept that the branches will not make us squillions of dollars. Perhaps we should continue to support those who have supported us in the past.

Yep. Pie in the sky wishful thinking.

You will have already copped flack over the questionable figures used by your staff to justify your company’s actions, so we won’t go there. But we would really like to reinforce the many, many objections to the closure of our Golden Rivers Real Estate Branch. Has your company no sympathy at all for the frail elderly without access to either public or private transport to get them to another bank, or the financially stressed (of which there a substantial representation in the Barham Koondrook community) who simply will not be able to afford the transport cost to do simple banking. Let them use new technology you say. Well, it might be news to the cold-hearted bean counters at your head office, but there are lots and lots of non tech people out there that just can’t do it. 

Ahh, but they can always head down to the friendly local Post Office you say. Easy you say. Maybe, right up to when you need that little bit of extra service that the ever obliging and helpful Post Office staff are not authorised or able to give.

Or, as in the case of our Lions Club, (and a lot of similar organisations) the transactions require a card. And as our trust accounts don’t come with this little bit of magic plastic, we are up the creek without a paddle.

We realise that the closure was driven by the need to maximise shareholder profits and accept that the branch closure was only one of many. But it is a pity that your bank seems to have lost the concept of service and accountability to the communities that have, for so many years, supported their local Bendigo Bank Branch. We somewhat foolishly thought that your bank actually meant what it says in the following extract from your website. Seems that we don’t have this “branch” option now.

Branch banking

Our professional and friendly branch staff will always welcome the opportunity to speak with you. We pride ourselves on delivering outstanding service for all our customers, whether on-line or in-person.

If you visit one of our branches, you’ll have the chance to experience our customer care personally. With a comprehensive range of banking products and services, our staff will be ready to assist you with any of your banking needs.

This article appeared in The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper, 27 April 2023.

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