Westpac to close 23 branches across NSW, QLD, WA, SA and Victoria

The closures would have a major impact on a number of towns, which are losing their last bank the union said, with 95 branches axed over the past four months.

Westpac is set to close down another 23 branches across Australia in a decision slammed by a union as an “appalling decimation” of the network, which would also see a number of towns lose their last bank.

The move will mean Westpac has overseen the closure of 95 branches over the past four months, according to the Finance Sector Union (FSU).

There are also 92 jobs set to be lost by the branch closures, although Westpac is not the only major bank to shutter branches this year.

Julia Angrisano, FSU National Secretary, said the latest Westpac closures would have a major impact on towns which are losing their last bank including Coober Pedy, Kapunda and Tailem Bend in South Australia and Carnamah in Western Australia.

Hay in NSW will be left with just a Commonwealth Bank when the local Westpac branch closes, she added.

“We need the Federal Government to step in and stop the banks from deserting regional Australia,” she said.

“Banks can’t be trusted to do the right thing by regional communities because when considering whether to close branches, they only consider their massive profits and the bonuses of senior executives.

“They don’t care about bank staff and the communities which will be impacted by their decisions to shut branch doors.”

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Julia Angrisano is national secretary of the Finance Sector Union. Picture: Hollie Adams/The Australian

Other Westpac branches set to be axed include Campbelltown and Moree in NSW, the Port Douglas outlet in Queensland, Beaumaris, Endeavour Hills and Gisborne in Victoria and Katherine in the Northern Territory.

Branches at St George, which is owned by Westpac, are also set to close including sites in Townsville and Cairns in QLD, North Sydney in NSW and Weston in ACT.

There are also five branches set to shutter with the Bank of Melbourne, which is also owned by Westpac, in the suburbs of Greensborough, Horsham, Prahran, Shepparton and Sunshine.

Apart from Kapunda and Tailem Bendlosing the only bank in town with Bank SA branches closing, two other suburbs will be affected too with Greenacres andPort Adelaide being shuttered.

Westpac is closing 23 more branches. Picture: Gaye Gerard/NCA NewsWire

Ms Angrisano said Westpac had announced the closure of 95 branches over the past four months leaving staff fearful that their bank will be the next to close down.

“This is the most appalling decimation of a branch network by a bank which is now on the verge of abandoning its social contract with the community,” she said.

“Hundreds of banking jobs have been lost as Westpac rips through what’s left of its branches.

“The Bank of Melbourne, Bank SA and St George brands are being hit hard and may well disappear if the current rate of closures continues.

“Clearly, servicing the banking needs of customers is being ignored, as Westpac chases cost savings by cutting their bricks and mortar, and staffing costs.

“Westpac staff have known for a long time the bank doesn’t care about people because they have borne the brunt of pressure from executives to work unpaid overtime to complete unreasonable daily workloads.”

The union claimed that staff are subject to abuse with branch closures. Picture: Christian Gilles/NCA NewsWire

Westpac staff affected by the closures told the union that it was “emotionally exhausting as every conversation with a customer is a reminder that we will be losing our jobs”.

“The impact on the mental health of everyone working at the branch is huge and taking its toll,” one employee said.

“We are remote, what our employment options look like is up in the air, we are all facing a very insecure future,” another wrote.

Ross Miller, Westpac chief customer engagement officer, said there had been a “significant shift” in how people were choosing to bank as more customers go online, which has resulted in a decline in the number of customers who use branches across our network.

“When we do make the decision to close a branch, we consider a range of factors including usage, location, and proximity to other banking services,” he told news.com.au.

He added customers would be supported by expanding access via digital and online banking, telephone, mobile and virtual banking, with support and educating to ease the transition.

“We’re continuing to invest in all our brands through creating a more connected branch network with new technology which means, for the first time, any St. George, Bank of Melbourne or Bank SA customer will soon be able to do their cash transactions at a Westpac branch, and vice versa,” he noted.

“This builds on our ongoing program of co-locations where select branches are combined, bringing two Westpac Group branches together under one roof.

“More than 30 branches have been co-located to date, enabling us to make a long-term commitment to providing employment and banking services in these communities, with new and improved branch sites opened in Dubbo, Lismore, Wagga Wagga and Stirling in recent months.”

Westpac said customers would be supported as part of the closures. Picture: Christian Gilles/NCA NewsWire

But Ms Angrisano said bank customers shouldn’t believe Westpac’s “spin” that branches are closing because consumers prefer digital banking.

“These suburbs and towns are losing their bank because Westpac isn’t recouping enough profits from the sale of new loans, insurance policies and credit cards in their area,’ she said.

“This process is particularly difficult for frontline staff. As well as facing the prospect of losing their jobs, the FSU has had reports of angry customers walking into branches and abusing them for what Westpac senior management are doing.

“This latest round of closures is why we need the Federal Government to set up an inquiry into the closure of bank branches, especially in regional areas, where they have a devastating impact on retail and business customers.”