News

Fight to keep local bank open

November 4, 2020

FURIOUS that another bank is closing, Canterbury Bankstown Mayor Khal Asfour has fired a broadside at the NAB and pleaded with them to reverse their decision to close its Chester Hill branch later this month.
“I couldn’t believe it when they said were pulling out and blamed it on financial reasons,” Mayor Asfour said.
“What are the financial reasons? These closures are nothing more than bolstering their profits with a complete disregard for customers.
“An absolute disgrace, closing branches on one hand, and spruiking they care on the other.”
There are nearly 14,000 people living in Chester Hill, 20 per cent of them are over the age of 60.

Mayor Asfour said many residents who had relied on the bank would now be forced to travel to Auburn, some 20 minutes away, to do their banking.
“What these bankers don’t take into account are those most vulnerable and elderly in our community,” he said.
“They just want a friendly face to engage with them and are scared to do transactions online for fear of being scammed and exploited.
“We have before the council, a proposal to revitalise the Chester Hill area and part of that proposal is redeveloping the centre, creating an additional 633 new dwellings and doubling the commercial space for businesses, like banks, to thrive.”
Other branches to close in the City over recent years, include: ANZ Bank at Chester Hill and Kingsgrove; NAB at Riverwood and Bankstown; Commonwealth Bank at Belmore; and Commonwealth and Westpac at Panania.
A NAB spokesperson apologised for any inconvenience and frustration caused by the closure. The bank will close November 25.
Mayor Asfour has written to NAB CEO Ross McEwan urging him to reconsider closing the Chester Hill branch and is encouraging residents to also make their voices heard by emailing info@nab.com.au.