BANKING

I have been banking with Westpac for the last 40-50 years since the old Waikato savings bank days and it was a shock for me to hear that the Te Aroha Westpac bank along with 16 other Westpac branches are to close.

Annoyed and disgusted would be an understatement . Why? I understand if a business is failing, then you need to make cuts.

But somebody needs to explain to me why if you have just made an approximate $455 million dollar half yearly profit that is up two per cent on last year, why the hell do you need to close seventeen branches . I know the answer. Greed. Good thing is at the end of the year they will be able to announce another huge profit and give the CEO a well deserved pay rise.

How about sparing a thought for the staff, their families and how they will pay for their mortgages etc.

Shame on you Westpac. I will be changing banks.

- Laurie Fullerton, Te Aroha.