Michelle Slater
Another bank is departing Morwell with Westpac confirming it will close its Commercial Road branch on August 8.
It means that the Morwell central business district has one remaining bank branch after the ANZ, Bendigo, Commonwealth and Bank Australia departed over the past two years.
The National Australia Bank has a branch operating on Princes Drive, while the Commonwealth Bank relocated to Mid Valley and Bank Australia converted its banking outlet to offices.
A Westpac group spokesperson said closing the branch was “not a decision we take lightly”.
“We take into consideration customer usage, location, and proximity to other banking services,” the spokesperson told The Express.
“We are notifying customers of this change and the banking services available to them.”
The spokesperson said the closure followed a significant shift towards digital and cashless banking, and declining foot traffic in bank branches.
“Westpac continues to follow our customers by investing in the ways they are choosing to bank. This trend is evident across the Westpac Group with over five million digitally active customers,” the spokesperson said.
“Many of our customers are comfortable doing most of their banking online, but for those who would prefer face-to-face service we will continue to offer a range of ways to bank with us.”
Westpac is advising its customers that its Traralgon branch will still be operating or to use the Morwell Australia Post for banking services or phone banking.
“Westpac Group has also grown its 24/7 phone banking and virtual banking centres to further assist customers with their needs,” the spokesperson said.
