By Renee Wood
Upper Yarra residents who bank with Westpac are set to have to branch out for in-person banking services, following the news of the Lilydale branch’s imminent closure.
The official notifications are yet to be sent to Westpac customers however, it was announced last week by the Finance Sector Union with the Lilydale branch one of 37 bank branches from all big four banks that will close.
Linda Dyer has been a Westpac customer for 30 years, travelling from Launching Place to Lilydale fortnightly to see a teller to pay off her credit card.
It’s a 26 km trip each way and Ms Dyer said the Lilydale branch has always provided a good service and is very disappointed to hear of the forthcoming closure.
“Westpac needs to realise that we are real people. We are good customers and have been for many, many years,” Ms Dyer said.
“Their bottom line is always profit and really, they need to look at what they’re doing to the people rather than their profit line.”
A Westpac Group spokesperson said with more than five million digitally active customers, the group is investing in services to complement how customers are banking.
“Declining customer use of branches means that in some instances, we may take a difficult decision to leave a branch location,” a Westpac Group spokesperson said.
Ms Dyer disagrees that online banking is an option for many customers including herself.
“I’m an elderly pensioner and I don’t do the online banking and there’s a very good reason for that and that is because my computer has been hacked six times in 12 months,” she said.
“I keep having to change all my credit cards all the time and I absolutely refuse to do online banking, because it isn’t secure.”
After the Lilydale bank closes, customers have been advised to drive a further 4km to see a teller at the Chirnside Park branch.
Ms Dyer said driving further to get to Chirnside Park will be an inconvenience.
“It’s a long drive 26 kilometres down there and 26 kilometres back and with the price of the petrol going up the way it has, it’s costing a fortune just to get to Lilydale.”
“Now there’s the added petrol – is Westpac going to compensate me for extra petrol that I’m going to have to use – I don’t think so.”
Ms Dyer is now forced to consider changing banks to a branch that is based in the Upper Yarra.
“I really would like it if they do reconsider and if they’re going to reconsider why not close Chirnside and leave the Lilydale one open because Lilydale services also, the Healesville area and Yarra Glen.“
Customers are advised that some banking operations such as deposits, withdraws and account balance checks can be done at Australia Post outlets which have Bank@Post facilities.
In the Upper Yarra, this can be done at Woori Yallock, Warburton and Yarra Junction.
A Westpac Group spokesperson said there will be new opportunities for employees who are affected.
“As we continue to adapt to our changing customer needs, this will result in new opportunities within the Westpac Group as we grow our phone, digital and virtual offerings,” they said.
“We have a robust process in place to assist employees to find new opportunities within Westpac Group, meaning the majority of employees affected secure a new role and continue their career in the Group.”
