Three more bank branches go
Westpac is closing three more branches at New Brighton, Sydenham and Lincoln.
The bank’s senior external relations manager, Heather Shiels, said that since the 2010-11 Canterbury earthquakes the region has experienced significant shifts in population, affecting where people were living, working and banking.
Westpac would be looking to transfer the majority of staff to other branches.
The three branches had all experienced a decline in over-thecounter transactions, she said.
Customers were increasingly using technology for their banking, resulting in fewer branch transactions.
Over the past five years, online transactions had increased 66 per cent, and in the past two years the percentage of customers using mobile-only devices has increased from 24 per cent to 39 per cent.
‘‘We are proposing to consolidate New Brighton, Sydenham and Lincoln branches with nearby branches,’’ Shiels said in a statement.
The nearest Westpac branches to New Brighton are at The Palms Shopping Centre in Shirley, and Eastgate Shopping Centre in Linwood.
The closest alternative for Westpac customers in Sydenham would be Barrington Mall or Cashel St, while Lincoln customers would need to travel to Rolleston for faceto-face service from Westpac.
Shiels said no decisions had yet been made, and Westpac was currently consulting with affected employees and would not be commenting further at this stage.
Westpac employs more than 700 people across Canterbury and will open its new flagship branch in the central city in March 2018.
Pegasus-Burwood city councillor Glenn Livingstone said Westpac had made a mistake given the amount of public investment going into revitalising New Brighton.
‘‘It won’t deter us. The work on the playground is under way. But for older people who like face-toface banking there will be problems trying to access branches in other places,’’ Livingstone said.
Ironically, the closure also comes as the number of vacant shops in New Brighton’s main street falls to 11, from 21 a year ago.
Tim Sintes, Coastal-Burwood community deputy chairman, said the closure of any bank outlet was a big deal because they tended to be ‘‘people magnets’’.
‘‘The Westpac branch has been there a long time. BNZ went a year ago, leaving ANZ and the NZ Post and Kiwibank shop,’’ Sintes said.
‘‘There are plenty of positive things happening but it’s a shame to lose an anchor tenant like a bank. It will leave a large vacant space.’’
Steve Burke, a former chairman of the local residents’ association, said banks were a core service and questioned why they needed to close when they made millions of dollars. Westpac made an $8 billion profit in the year ended September 2017.
A Lincoln Community Care spokeswoman said ASB and Kiwibank would have the only permanent bank outlets remaining.
Westpac is continuing a trend seen at all major banks. Last year it announced 19 closures.