Despite the widespread closures of banking branches in the last six months, a big four bank has announced that it will keep its entire branch system intact until at least January 2021.
National Australia Bank (NAB) has 316 branches throughout Australia, a system which employs over 1,600 people.
CEO Philip Chronican said, “We are proud of our heritage in regional and rural Australia and we want our customers to know that our priority is to serve them.
“We also know that regional and rural Australia is undergoing significant change – and impacts like bank branch closures are difficult for communities.”
The CEO went on to reconfirm NAB’s commitment to not closing branches in drought-affected areas.
“The local NAB branch and the bankers we employ can play a key role in supporting communities and customers through change and this decision provides certainty that we will continue to be there for them,” he said.
Last year, NAB held forums at 13 locations to get first-hand input from customers on how to better meet the communities’ needs.
In response, NAB is opening customer connect centres in Toowoomba, Tamworth, Bendigo and Bunbury. They will employ specialist bankers with local experience in small business and agribusiness who will be able to effectively partner with and support regional customers.
There have been two branch closures already in the works in regional cities. They are set to continue, as there are other NAB branch locations in the immediate area.
