‘Failed us again’: Business outcry as ATM removed

Six years after the last bank in town closed, Yandina business owners have been dealt another ‘kick in the guts’ with the last free ATM removed.

Yandina Chamber of Commerce president John O’Leary and local Bill Gissane are upset that Commonwealth Bank removed the only free ATM in town. Photo: Patrick Woods

SIX years after the only bank in town closed, Yandina business owners have been dealt another “kick in the guts” with the last free ATM removed.

The Commonwealth Bank ATM which sat outside Pete’s Village Bakery on Farrell St was recently removed following an attempted break in.

Owner of the bakery Julie Vermeulen said it was the only attempt in the six years.

A spokeswoman for Commonweath Bank of Australia said a recent review led to the “difficult” decision to remove the ATM at Yandina.

However, Mrs Vermeulen fears the lack of an ATM will cost her business customers and drive them away from town.

“People would send customers here to get money out,” Mrs Vermeulen said.

“We have so many problems with EFTPOS machines, they regularly go down and a lot of our customers like to use cash.

“Commonwealth Bank say there’s an ATM in Nambour, but if people go to Nambour they will spend in Nambour.

“We are struggling enough with what’s going on in the world.”

Yandina Chamber of Commerce president John O’Leary said the ATM should be reinstalled in town. Photo: Patrick Woods

Caroline Pickering, owner of the Cafe Ginger across the road, witnesses a steady stream of customers who go to the bakery each week to get cash out.

Now they’re unable to, which she said is to the detriment of the town.

“Every two months the EFTPOS goes down, for three hours a day we don’t have it. Usually we just say nick across the road and people are happy to,” Mrs Pickering said.

“We rely on tradies who hardly ever have cash, now they can’t get it out.

“Taking the bank away was bad enough, now it’s another kick in the guts.”

Chamber of Commerce president John O’Leary said the community had been “failed again”.

“That ATM was a landmark in the town, we knew it as ‘the ATM at the bakery’ and they’ve let us down,” Mr O’Leary said.

“Everyone would go there and they’ve taken it way in a really tough time.

“First they closed the branch, and the first time someone tried to break into it, they take it away.”

The Commonwealth Bank were asked whether the ATM would be reinstalled, which fell on deaf ears, instead a spokesman said the association was heading in a more digital focus.

“The needs of our customers are changing - everyday more and more customers are choosing to do their banking online, via our CommBank app, and Netbank,” a CBA spokeswoman said.

“Across the industry, ATM use continues to decrease year on year as customers look at other methods for payment including tap and pay and Apple Pay.

“Cash now only accounts for around a third of all payments and has dropped from more than two-thirds a decade ago.

“Customers can deposit and withdraw cash from Australia Post which is across the road (30m away) from the Yandina ATM. Additionally, customers can also visit their nearest Commonwealth Bank branch and ATM at Nambour.

“As always, customers can also access their accounts 24 hours a day through NetBank or the CommBank.”

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