Zoe Moffatt
Macedon Ranges residents and businesses are frustrated with banking closures in the region which are forcing them to travel up to an hour to go to the bank.
On April 26, the Finance Sector Union (FSU) called on major banks to stop closing branches in regional areas while a Senate Inquiry into Regional Branch Closures is under way.
Hanging Rock Winery manager Ruth Malaspin said they have been banking with Westpac for about 30 years and now have to travel 45 minutes to Sunbury or an hour to Bendigo to go to the bank.
“When we opened the account there were Westpac’s in Woodend, Gisborne and Kyneton,” Ms Malaspin said.
“We had three in a 20 to 30 minute radius and now they are all closed.
“As it stands currently, if we want to bank cheques, make deposits, get change, or get credit cards [we have to go to Sunbury or Bendigo].”
Ms Malaspin said the business was considering switching to Bendigo Bank as they had an agency in Woodend, however Bendigo Bank announced this would close on June 17.
“I was surprised because that’s the last bank [or agency] in Woodend… What are all the businesses going to do?
“I also hate to think what this means for elderly people who don’t like doing internet transactions.”
Ms Malaspin’s concern for elderly people was shared by Facebook users in a post on a Macedon Ranges Community page.
One user commented that it is “going to be very difficult for seniors that don’t have a credit card or internet banking.”
A Bendigo Bank spokesperson said the decision to close the agency was made following a detailed review of transaction activity, banking habits and cash usage.
“As more … customers choose to do their banking online or over the phone, our Bank must respond [to] … changes in customer behaviour,” the spokesperson said.
Kyneton’s NAB branch also announced they will close on July 6, due to fewer customers coming into branches to do their banking.
Regional Victoria Retail Customer Executive Larna Manson said “nearly 60 per cent of our Kyneton customers have only visited the branch once in the last 12 months, and more than 74 per cent are already using other branches.”
