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St George bank at Wentworthville shuts on November 30

THE closure of St George Bank at Wentworthville Mall will plunge the struggling shopping centre into more trouble, traders say.

St George bank, Wentworthville, has fallen victim to poor trade.
St George bank, Wentworthville, has fallen victim to poor trade.

THE closure of St George Bank at Wentworthville Mall will plunge the struggling shopping centre into more trouble, traders say.

A St George Bank spokeswoman said the bank would shut on November 30 following a drop in customers since the mall’s anchor tenant, IGA supermarket, closed late last year.

More customers are banking online, St George says.
More customers are banking online, St George says.

“Over the past few years, we’ve experienced a significant decline in customers’ transactions undertaken at our St George branch in Wentworthville as more and more customers choose to undertake their banking in different ways; for example digital banking,’’ she said.

IGA supermarket’s at Wentworthville has contributed to falling trade.
IGA supermarket’s at Wentworthville has contributed to falling trade.

The spokeswoman said the ATM would be removed but customers could use Westpac ATM on the same street without incurring fees or use Australia Post banking services.

ATMs will be gone too.
ATMs will be gone too.

The spokeswoman said customers preferred to bank at Parramatta Westfield but customers disagree.

“I’m p****d off about it,” Westmead resident Lyn Phillips said.

“I’ve been here since the mall’s been here. I’ve always banked at St George.”

Disgusted: Lyn Phillips.
Disgusted: Lyn Phillips.
Vivian and Ken Sultana.
Vivian and Ken Sultana.

The bank’s closure will repel shoppers such as Ken Sultana and his mother Vivian from shopping at Wentworthville.

“That is a big inconvenience,” he said.

“Without the IGA … now I have to go elsewhere.”

Donna’s Flowers owner John Lynch said the bank was vital to the mall.

“The only thing keeping the centre alive was St George and Millers,” he said.

“That’s the biggest worry … because we have nothing here but rubbish shops.”

Wentworthville resident Greta Martin said the community would become further isolated with the closure of another service.

Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/parramatta/st-george-bank-at-wentworthville-shuts-on-november-30/news-story/38467c8a701504189880bcfdab5bb096