ANZ customers in Orange wanting to do their banking in-store will have to travel to Bathurst or Cowra from July 6 as the branch undergoes the change to a “digi-branch”.
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A letter sent to ANZ customers last week said the decision was part of “continually improving customers’ banking experience”.
“If you need to use a branch for your banking and financial needs in the meantime, we have branches located at Bathurst and Cowra,” the letter said.
All operations at the branch will be closed, but ANZ Bank@Post is available at the Australia Post on Summer Street, allowing people to deposit up to $5000 cash and 99 cheques a day, while also withdrawing $1000 a day.
An ANZ spokesperson said the $1.3 million dollar upgrade to the branch would allow ANZ to host more seminars and provide new features for businesses, including digital kiosks and Smart ATMs, and the re-design would also add a “fresh design, open plan layout, roaming tellers and assisted digital banking”.
“In the meantime, customers can visit us at the branch in Bathurst,” the spokesperson said.
“We also encourage them to try the Bank@Post facilities at one of 3500 Post Office locations across Australia. This service offers deposits, withdrawals and payments for customers using ANZ debit or credit cards.”
The spokesperson apologised for disruption during the store outfit, and encouraged customers to come into the branch before July 6 to ask any questions about the renovation period.
ANZ customer Ben Miller said he banked two or three times a week in-branch while managing Central West Mowers and Heating, mostly depositing daily takings.
He said he only received his letter on Thursday.
“I thought it was ludicrous for them to believe their customers will tolerate it and stand with them and we’ll have to come up with some form of solution,” he said.
Mr Miller said it might be possible for him to the Bank@Post work, with the $5000 limit on deposits going to require splitting deposits and making more trips to the Post Office, as he said going to branches in Bathurst or Cowra wasn’t feasible.
“I’d have to pay someone travel time there and back and provide a car – it would cost half a person’s wages a week,” he said.
“There’s no apology or explanation as to why they can’t have skeleton staff.
“Banks are very good at assuming we’ll bend to their every whims, but if you do something to slightly inconvenience them there’s a charge.”