The ANZ bank is closing more branches in NSW, with three branches in Sydney and another three in the NSW Central West facing closure.
ANZ has notified the Finance Sector Union of Australia (FSU) it will close branches at Gladesville (6 staff), Lindfield (4 staff) and Pennant Hills (3 staff). Each of these branches will shut down on 18 April, 2018.
In the NSW Central West, branches at Forbes (4 staff), Narromine, (3 staff) and Temora (3 staff) will be shut down on 18 May, 2018.
"The ANZ is deserting customers in these suburbs and towns and pushing bank workers onto the unemployment queue because the bank has decided the branch isn’t making make enough profit," said FSU National Assistant Secretary Nathan Rees.
"Banking is an essential service, especially in regional communities – and customers rely on their bank having a branch that they can access," Mr Rees said.
He said the loss of a local bank could have a devastating impact on regional communities, with the loss of income affecting other local businesses because workers no longer had cash to spend.
"Jobs are scarce and we think the banks need to reassess how they treat bank workers when they decide to restructure."
"The restoration of trust and confidence that the banks badly need to address with the community is being compromised by the numbers of bank closures, particularly in regional Australia."
Instead of closing branches, the Finance Sector Union is calling on the ANZ to properly consult with its workers and communities about the future of its branch network before making decisions to abandon communities.
"Banks have an obligation to the communities that support them. ANZ is aggressively closing branches at the same time it’s reported a $6.4 billion profit in 2017."
"Our concern is that the ANZ appears to care more about profits than people."
The latest closures lift the number of ANZ closures to 19 so far this year. A total of 67 staff have been affected with most expected to be made redundant.
Over the past two years, ANZ has cut 5256 full time equivalent jobs.
Mr Rees said the FSU is concerned that Australian Bankers’ Association Branch Closures Protocol does not go far enough.
"The ABA Protocol should require banks to consult with local communities when deciding on the future of their branch networks. In most cases, no community consultation is being done."
Link to the ABA Branch Closures Protocol below.
http://www.bankers.asn.au/images/uploads/ArticleDocuments/149/Branch%20Closure%20Protocol%20Oct%202015.pdf
Media comment: National Assistant Secretary Nathan Rees 0429294916 ---
