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Australia News

‘Big Four’ Agree to No Regional Branch Closures for 2 Years Amid Shift to Cashless Banking

Australia’s major banks have agreed to pause closing branches in regional areas for the next two years after reaching an agreement with the federal government.
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‘Big Four’ Agree to No Regional Branch Closures for 2 Years Amid Shift to Cashless Banking
A man walks past a branch of the National Australia Bank (NAB) in Melbourne, Australia, on May 6, 2021. William West/AFP via Getty Images
Rex Widerstrom
Rex Widerstrom
2/10/2025|Updated: 2/10/2025
0:00

People living outside of the more populated areas of Australia will have face-to-face banking services continue for the next two years under an agreement just reached between the banks and the federal government.

Between 2017 and 2024, the number of bank branches nationwide fell by over 2,300, or 41 percent. But for people living in areas of Australia classified as “remote” or “very remote,” the withdrawal of banking services hits doubly hard since there were so few to begin with.

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Rex Widerstrom
Rex Widerstrom
Author
Rex Widerstrom is a New Zealand-based reporter with over 40 years of experience in media, including radio and print. He is currently a presenter for Hutt Radio.
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