The federal member for Grey asked Westpac to reverse its closure of the last remaining bank branch at Coober Pedy, but on Friday the bank said it was committed to transitioning customers to use Bank@Post.
Rowan Ramsey told Flow listeners on Friday:
"... both NAB and Westpac have announced some pauses on closures. But not Coober Pedy or Roxby Downs. I asked in the speech to the Parliament House the other day that to support the council in Coober Pedy, that they (Westpac) reopen the branch. It's only been shut for about two or three weeks. They kind of haven't taken everything out of it yet. How about we get some people back there until this inquiry is over, at least, and see what they find?"
In a statement provided to Flow later on Friday, Westpac politely declined, via a spokesperson:
"Westpac will not be re-opening the Coober Pedy branch. Services and customers have been transitioned to our Bank@Post service in the town.
"We recently signed a 10-year agreement to provide Bank@Post services and this year Westpac is investing $15 million into this partnership. Around 95 of every 100 in-branch transactions can be done at Bank@Post.
"For those few customers in Coober Pedy where the Bank@Post option was not suitable, we have provided extensive transition support and worked one-on-one with them to discuss alternate options."
Hear the full interview with Rowan Ramsey MP, discussing the official opening on Tuesday of the duplicated Joy Baluch Bridge at Port Augusta and more, on the Flow podcast player below: