The Nyngan Westpac in-store branch closed on Thursday and customers have been directed to go AusPost instead, much to the concern of Bogan Shire mayor, Ray Donald.
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The partnership between Australia Post and Westpac was announced in April.
The branches are being phased out over two years from the April announcement. Nyngan is the first branch in the region to close with Narromine retaining it’s in-store branch for now.
Cr Donald is disappointed the in-store branch is no longer available in the shire.
“It’s like they’re saying you’re not worth our business any more,” he said.
“Operating an in-store branch is not much cost for a multi-million dollar organisation like Westpac.”
“Operating an in-store branch is not much cost for a multi-million dollar organisation like Westpac.”
- Ray Donald, Bogan Shire Mayor
Apart from cash services, coin, cash and cheque deposits and in-store identity checks for new Westpac customer clients will have to travel to Dubbo.
“It’s taking out a service to clients, I understand only 50 per cent of services will be available at the post office, just cash deposits and withdrawals,” Cr Donald said.
“All other services will have to come from Dubbo.”
According to a Westpac spokesperson Nyngan is one of 147 Westpac agencies being phased out to AusPost.
The Mayor is also concerned about the impact the closure will have on local businesses, including the council itself.
“It’s not suitable for the shire any more. We need more than a post office, we make large transactions,” he said.
Another local business which didn’t wish to be named tried to make a transaction this week but was unable to without a card.
“I was told we needed a card,” the worker said.
“We’ve never had a card for things like our petty cash, I don’t even know how to apply for one.”
Cr Donald is hoping other banks don’t choose to go down the same path. “There’s concern one bank will flow on to others who are considering the same thing,” he said.
The Westpac spokesperson said “the partnership will actually open up a whole range of new banking options for communities across regional and remote Australia - with around 1400 regional towns now having Westpac face-to-face banking options that previously did not exist.
“No Westpac branches are closing and the 147 Westpac agencies that are being phased out will now have AusPost. “That goes for Nyngan too. Customer letters have been sent,” they concluded.
