Thursday, 6 July 2023
Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke has written to the NAB in the wake of their announcement to close rural bank branches in Gundagai and Temora, condemning their decision and demanding it be reconsidered.
“When we talk about wiping out face-to-face banking services in country New South Wales, we know such actions tear big holes in the fabric of small regional communities,” Ms Cooke said.
The big banks have all claimed that their customers are changing the way they use banks, and that these companies are merely adjusting their business models to reflect these changes.
But Ms Cooke expressed no sympathy for such decisions when the fallout is so damaging.
“Unfortunately, I have been on the public record far too many times in recent years on the issue of bank closures and my view hasn’t changed,” Ms Cooke said.
“I care little for the march towards online and mobile phone banking. There is simply no justification for the decision to shut down face-to-face banking services.”
“There are elderly people who have lived in the communities of Gundagai and Temora for decades, or indeed their entire lives and are not internet or mobile banking savvy. They have placed their trust and savings in institutions such as the NAB. They know the people they transact with at their local branch. They deserve better.”
“Year after year NAB, and the other big banks, post billions of dollars of profit, yet the impact of these closures on our local branch employees, their families and our small communities is immense.”
“It’s simply not good enough and I have written to the NAB requesting that they reconsider this decision and I eagerly await their response.”