ANZ suddenly closes TEN branches after foot traffic plummets thanks to the coronavirus pandemic
- ANZ bank permanently closed ten of its branches out of the blue on Friday night
- The bank says most staff will now work in call centres and online customer care
- A spokeswoman said the COVID-19 pandemic is the final blow for the branches
- She said foot traffic was decreasing but the pandemic ‘accelerated the change’
ANZ has closed ten of its branches overnight due to the COVID-19 pandemic completely changing the way people bank.
The affected branches in Western Australia have been temporarily closed for the past few months before their fate was sealed on Friday night.
The St Georges Terrace, Hay St, Northbridge, South Perth, Tuart Hill, West Perth, Kingsway, Warnbro, East Vic Park and Willetton branches are all now closed.
An ANZ spokesman said they expect to retain most bank staff and plan move them to call centres and online customer care positions due to increased demand for remote banking options from customers.
ANZ South Perth (pictured) has permanently closed down, along with the St Georges Terrace, Hay St, Northbridge, Tuart Hill, West Perth, Kingsway, Warnbro, East Vic Park and Willetton branches
The bank does expect to lose some jobs during the transition from physical banking to online and telephone options, but the exact number is not yet known.
‘We have needed to redeploy staff from some branches to where our customers need them most,’ the spokesman told the West Australian.
‘While branch use has been declining for some time, the current environment has accelerated the change.’
WA previously had 59 branches in WA but will now have just 48 due to the closures – a total loss of 19 per cent.
It is not clear if ANZ branches in other states will also be closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Daily Mail Australia has contacted ANZ for comment.
An ANZ worker wears a face mask at a branch. A spokesperson said: ‘While branch use has been declining for some time, the current environment has accelerated the change.’
Earlier on Friday, ANZ CEO Shayne Elliott said was a possibility of relief for credit card interest rates for struggling customers amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
‘The best we can do as a bank is keep people in their current home and keep people in their current businesses,’ Mr Elliot told 6PR.
‘So for us to stop taking money out of your pocket, is the best thing we can do and this exactly what all the banks in Australia have signed up to do.’
Struggling customers should contact their bank as soon as they need help.
A man in a face mask walks past ANZ. On Friday, ANZ CEO Shayne Elliott said there could be relief for credit card customers amid the coronavirus pandemic