Federal Member for Calare Andrew Gee says the inclusion of Orange in the Taskforce's official hearings list comes days after he delivered a Constituency Statement in the Australian Parliament calling for members to visit the Central West to hear and see firsthand the impact bank closures are having on communities.

"I welcome the inclusion of Orange in the Taskforce's proceedings. It will allow Taskforce members to get a clear picture of the detrimental impacts branch closures and service reductions are having on loyal bank customers in our area.

"The Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) has pulled out of Molong, Portland and Blayney, and halved its opening hours in Gulgong, Wellington and Oberon. The National Bank of Australia (NAB) has shut up shop in Blayney and Canowindra, and the ANZ has shut its Cowra branch. The list goes on and on.

"This is not a new trend. All the big banks are doing it and it's only getting worse. The Cabonne Shire is home to nearly 14,000 people in 17 towns and villages, but it no longer has a single stand-alone bank branch.

"Across Australia, these banking giants have closed, or plan to close, 350 branches between January last year and next month. It simply has to stop," Mr Gee said.

"By visiting our area, the Taskforce will be able to better understand the full impact the sector's demise is having on regional communities and meet its Terms of Reference.

"Members will be able to see the fallout and talk to personal, business and charity bank customers about how they're best trying to handle the banks' exit from Central West towns.

"We must remember that many country customers have been with these big banks for many generations, well prior to the decimalisation of the Australian currency. These loyal members of our community are now senior Australians, and many don't have access to online bank services, or regular transport to visit larger centres with a banking presence," he said.

"I believe this Taskforce needs to hear of the unnecessary travel that is now imposed on local residents to access vital services, or community organisations that are now forced to drive to neighbouring centres to access cash floats for charity events.

"Members need to be told about the numerous occasions Molong has simply run out of cash because its sole ATM hasn't been adequately stocked.

"They need be informed about businesses that can't bank cheques locally because they exceed a certain limit. Members also need to hear from the scores of people who've left the big banks in protest, moving their life savings to smaller, community owned credit unions.

"We also need to be looking at solutions. We want to do everything we can to stop the branches closing. We also need to ensure there isn't a ripple effect caused by people leaving small towns to access bank services in larger centres. We want them to still buy their groceries in their own villages, pop into the local newsagent to pick up the daily newspaper, collect and post their mail in their town's Post Office."

The Taskforce will hold its first meeting next week, before releasing an issues paper for public consultation. The date for the Taskforce hearing in Orange will be set for early December.

Community members can register for updates at: www.treasury.gov.au/review/regional-banking-taskforce

Electronic submissions will also be accepted via the website in coming weeks.

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