THE closure of Robinvale’s ANZ bank branch is “another nail in the coffin” for the area, says Member for Mildura Jade Benham.
ANZ this month announced it would close its Robinvale branch on May 18.
ANZ district manager Gurjot Thandi said customers just weren’t using branches like they used to.
“With in-branch transactions decreasing in Robinvale by more than 50 per cent over the past five years, more than 94 per cent of Robinvale customers now prefer alternative banking channels such as online and mobile banking,” he said.
Ms Benham said the ANZ was one of the busiest places in the town and provided a “critically multilingual service to the incredibly diverse community and to the people of Robinvale”.
“Its closure feels like another nail in the coffin for a town which contributes so much to the dinner plates of Victorian and Australian families, and the Victorian economy.” she said.
Ms Benham said the Sunraysia region was increasingly the victim of “city-based decision making”, with decisions being reached with little to no understanding of regional populations.
“What is the matter with these people in their big city offices?” she asked.
“These big banks would benefit by actually visiting these locations for an extended period of time to get an understanding of how important these services are, not only for the social fabric of our region, but of course for the economic factors.”
The newly elected member announced she was joining the campaign to force an urgent federal government inquiry into bank closures, especially in regional areas.
She said the last straw for her was the news of the Robinvale bank branch, which compounded Westpac’s decision to close its Bank of Melbourne branch in Mildura.
Mr Thandi told the Sunraysia Daily that ANZ’s relationship bankers would continue to visit business customers at its locations and be available on the phone after the branch closed.
“We also have mobile lenders to help customers with their home loan needs where it is most convenient for them,” he said.
“Customers can also visit our Mildura branch for face-to-face banking as well as use the ANZ Smart ATMs in Mildura and Ouyen, which can perform a number of banking transactions including depositing cheques and cash.
“All ANZ customers also have fee-free access to the atmx network and additional ATMs operated by the other major banks to meet their banking needs. They can also withdraw money using EFTPOS facilities at Robinvale’s IGA.”
Ms Benham said removal of bank services devastated sections of communities.
“What happens to our migrant workers, particularly those on PALMS or SWP, who religiously use the banks?” she asked.
“Or our elderly, who have little (or) often no interest in internet banking, and in the case of Swan Hill, certainly don’t want to have to drive to Mildura or Echuca to get their banking done?
“Not only that, it’s just another closed door on a town’s main street, and that’s not good for anyone.”
Ms Benham’s stand against the closures of the Big Four banks has been supported by the Finance Sector Union, which described the latest round of closures as “the most appalling decimation” of regional bank services.
FSU national secretary Julia Angrisano said the accelerating number of closures was leaving staff at every other regional bank branch fearful that theirs would be the next to close down.
“Clearly, servicing the banking needs of customers is being ignored, and these latest impacted towns are losing their banks because they aren’t recouping enough profits from the sale of new loans, insurance policies and credit cards in their areas,” she said.
“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.”
National Farmers Federation vice-president David Jochinke, who has been vocal about banks refusing to finance agribusiness sectors such as live export, has said that farmers were the ones who paid dearly when their local bank branch disappears.
Mr Jochinke says the “touch points” with local branches are nowhere near as high as they used to be.
“Access to an agri-banker in a nearby town is extremely important for any successful farming business,” he said.
“By closing branches it does make that distance further, which can put a lot of strain on farmers, especially when they are faced with tough seasons.”
