TERANG residents came out in force on Tuesday with a message – they will not support a business that cuts services.
The show of outrage came after the local Commonwealth Bank of Australia branch cuts its hours back, and is now only open for four hours, 11am to 3pm, each weekday.
Corangamite Councillor Chris O’Connor addressed the crowd of around 70, saying the move by CBA was all about profit.
“Normally the bank would have been open now,” Cr O’Connor said at just after 10am.
“The Commonwealth Bank has a footprint of over $120 million in savings and deposits in this area.
“They’re into making as much money as they can.”
Cr O’Connor said the branch might only be saving three or four hundred dollars a day by reducing its hours.
Local lawyer Ian Pugh, who addressed the crowd on Tuesday morning, said one of the reasons why he set up business in Terang was the range of services available in town.
“If we have to go to Warrnambool it would cost hours.
“Mostly, it (the cut in hours) would affect pensioners with mobility problems. It’s not convenient for them to come at these reduced hours.
“This town is a great town with great community spirit. We expect our bank to show community spirit also.”
Local identity John Keane also spoke on the day, urging locals to continue their pressure on CBA.
“I’ve been a lifelong member of this bank.
It would be a shame to see it close. That’s what this could lead to and that would be a shame for this town,” he said.
“I’m no activist, but you’ve got to draw a line somewhere.
“The reward you get for good customer service is customer loyalty, and they’re not getting that. This bank doesn’t care about the Terang community.”
Corangamite councillor Ruth Gstrein also attended the protest and said it was a “shame” the bank had cut services when the community had brought so much to it.
“I think, as often is the case, this is the thin end of the wedge,” she said.
“It’s a shame service was dropped at this bank.
“The levels of deposits show the community has put a lot in.”
Cr O’Connor told the Terang Express that locals would endeavour to hold further talks with the bank to try and resolve the issue.
He said that, should the Commonwealth reverse its decision to cut hours, he hoped people would be “reasonable and forgive the bank.”