The Moss Vale branch of the Commonwealth Bank (CBA) is among 90 branches in regional locations set for reduced opening hours, starting September 13.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The bank said the adjustment in operating hours to 9.30am to 1pm follows consultation with staff and was in response to a reduction in visitors.
Staff in the regional branches will be deployed to "assist CBA's Australian-based contact centres".
CBA's general manager of customer service, Mark Jones said the changes were an example of how the bank was adapting to meet changing customers' needs while ensuring jobs stay in regional communities.
"Our branches in regional Australia will continue to play an important role in delivering great service to our customers now and into the future, and this is an example of how we are adapting to meet changing customers' evolving needs while ensuring jobs stay in regional communities," Mr Jones said.
"We're expanding our Australian-based contact centre network from five dedicated locations to over 90 communities across the country, while keeping a physical banking presence in regional communities."
CBA says its national contact centres are receiving more than a million "increasingly complex" customer inquiries every month.
ATMs will still be available for use across all branches named in the changes.
Regional CBA customers affected by the reduced hours will continue to be able to take part in face-to-face banking at 3,500 Australia Post outlets under a 10-year deal struck with the national postage service.
This means customers can physically deposit or withdraw money and pay bills during normal business hours under the Bank@Post deal.
NAB also signed up to the 10 year deal with Westpac extending their agreement by a year. ANZ is not part of the agreement.
The move has similarities with NAB's April, 2020 decision to convert 70 of its face-to-face branches into training and back-office centres during initial impacts of COVID-19.
Since the start of the pandemic, Australia's big four banks have closed 350 branches with ANZ making up over 40 per cent of the closures.
For the full list of branch closures, click here.
