Banks in Reservoir: Westpac, NAB, ANZ permanently closed, Commonwealth Bank open

Residents in Melbourne’s north have slammed a major bank’s decision to permanently shut up shop “without bothering to tell its customers”.

One of Melbourne’s largest suburbs has been left with just one bank branch to service tens of thousands of residents.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia will operate the only bricks and mortar branch dedicated to Reservoir’s 50,000 residents, after Westpac and National Australia Bank recently announced they were permanently shutting up shop.

NAB sent a letter to customers dated July 4 advising its Spring St branch would close permanently from September 1 “due to the changes in the ways customers are banking”.

But frustrated Westpac customers have taken to social media to accuse the Sydney-based company of closing its Spring St branch “with no notice”.

“I went up two weeks ago to deposit a check (sic) and was shocked to see it closed,” Rosemary Wellsted posted on a community Facebook page on July 5.

“Today, I got a brief letter saying it was permanently gone, even the ATM

“This is going to send a lot of small business to the wall … especially shops, where are they supposed to deposit cash?”

Other customers shared her disappointment in the “crappy” service and “vague” instructions left at the closed Westpac branch.

Colleen Cleeve said it suggested a lack of respect for “older people that still only have bank books and have trouble travelling all over the place to get there (sic) money out”.

Angela Cuppari predicted “chaos come pension day”.

“And they have the nerve to say ‘we’re here to help you’,” another customer wrote.

NAB customers recently received this letter advising of the branch closure. Picture: Facebook

The Westpac and NAB closures follow ANZ’s departure from its Spring St location in April 2021.

An ANZ spokesperson said the decision was made because of significant declines in in-branch transactions across Australia in the past five years, with 70 per cent of ANZ customers indicating a preference for “convenient and secure” online banking methods in the past 12 months.

They advised Reservoir ANZ customers to visit nearby Preston and Northland branches for face-face banking needs including making withdrawals and depositing cheques and banknotes.

“Our customers can also use the atmx network at no charge and customers can use ATMs operated by the other major banks, fee-free, to meet their banking needs,” the spokesperson said.

“Customers can also withdraw money using EFTPOS facilities at the Coles supermarket and Super IGA in Reservoir, along with other major supermarkets Australia wide.”

NAB’s retail executive for metro Victoria Mary Scoutas provided a similar explanation.

“Over the past few years, fewer customers are coming into branches to do their banking and foot traffic has lessened, which has been accelerated by Covid,” Ms Scoutas said.

“Approximately 60 per cent of our customers in Reservoir have only visited the branch once in the last year and more than 69 per cent of customers are also using other branches.”

Banking alternatives for Reservoir NAB customers include the Bank@post service, available at the Australia Post outlets, as well as phone or video appointments with mobile bankers, home lending specialists or business bankers.

Ms Scoutas said no one would lose their job as a result of the branch closure.

“We have worked closely with our colleagues on opportunities for them to continue to support customers either through other branches or across phone and digital channels,” she said.

CBA confirmed it has no plans to close its Edwardes St branch any time soon.

“We’re proud to serve the people of Reservoir and will continue to do so,” a spokesperson said.

“We review our branch locations across Australia regularly to help us make informed decisions on where to open new branches, where to renovate or upgrade existing branches, and in some instances where to close branches.”

At the 2016 Census, people aged 65 years and over made up 17.7 per cent of Reservoir’s population and 74.5 per cent of households had internet access.

Westpac did not respond to requests for comment.