Westpac to close another 23 branches

Westpac is closing down another 23 branches across Australia, including in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia and South Australia.

The move will have a major impact on regional towns, with a number left without a local branch, according to the Finance Sector Union (FSU).

Impacted towns include Coober Pedy, Kapunda and Tailem Bend in South Australia, and Carnamah in Western Australia.

Hay in NSW will be left with just one local Commonwealth Bank branch when the Westpac branch closes.

“We need the Federal Government to step in and stop the banks from deserting regional Australia,” Julia Angrisano, FSU national secretary, told news.com.au.

“Banks can’t be trusted to do the right thing by regional communities because, when considering whether to close branches, they only consider their massive profits and the bonuses of senior executives.”

Other branches set to close include Campbelltown and Moree in NSW, Port Douglas in Queensland, Beaumaris, Endeavour HIlls and Gisborne in Victoria, and Katherine in the Northern Territory.