There are no plans and no notification that we know of, but if what is happening at Westpac in Forbes and Parkes is any indication the message is pretty clear to bank customers, use your over the counter service or lose it.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The hours at Westpac's branches in Forbes and Parkes are being shortened, with the bank saying more and more people are doing their banking online rather than visiting a local branch in person.
No one can argue this is not the case.
When was the last time you walked into the bank and made a withdrawal or a deposit?
According to a report in the Forbes Advocate, the Forbes and Parkes branches of Westpac are advertising that from March 18 their operating hours will be 10am-2pm, Monday to Thursday and 10am-4pm on Friday.
Cowra's Westpac is currently open from 9.30am to 4pm Monday through to Thursday and from 9.30am until 5pm.
Again we stress, we know of no plans to change these hours.
Why the cut in hours in Parkes and Forbes?
A Westpac spokesperson told our sister publication in Forbes the organisation is "continually reviewing our services to ensure they reflect how our customers are choosing to bank, now and in the future".
“When we do make the decision to change branch operating hours, we take into careful consideration factors such as usage, location, proximity to other services and community needs," a spokesperson said in a statement issued in response to media inquiries.
“In the past 12 months, less than two per cent of transactions were through our branch network, as an increasing number of customers enjoy the convenience of our online and mobile banking services."
In background information Westpac said there had been no impact to employees as this has been managed through opportunities in other branches.
With the change in open hours, one manager will now manage both Forbes and Parkes branches.
The statement said the Forbes branch has seen 53 per cent less foot traffic than the average Westpac branch.
The Parkes branch has seen 38 per cent less foot traffic than average.
You have to wonder how different the traffic at the Cowra branch can be in comparison.