Westpac

Westpac is a recidivist Roger Award offender, having been a finalist several times (most recently in 2015), one of three equal runners up in 2011, and the joint winner in 2005 (with BNZ). In 2016 the nominator wrote: “Westpac has withdrawn services in 17* areas imposing loss of jobs on staff. Politically negative and economically threatening” (*it is actually shutting 19 branches). 

Westpac wasn’t the only Australian bank shutting rural branches in 2016 but it was doing it the most and was the most high profile offender. In the case of several of those South Island small towns, the people weren’t prepared to take it lying down e.g. there were very well attended public meetings and pickets in Fairlie and Ranfurly.

Central Otago’s Mayor, Tony Lepper, summed it up succinctly: “The Council will join the list of people who are disappointed that Westpac, who are making millions of dollars out of rural New Zealand, are abandoning a town 90 km from the nearest bank. We are happy to talk with then about alternatives but the best solution is a branch in Ranfurly” (Press, 23/8/16,  Maniototo Community Rallies To Fight To RetainTown’s Only Bank, Jo McKenzie-McLean). Fairlie also stands to lose its only bank (not just its only Westpac branch). This demonstrates the contempt that Westpac displays towards its small town and rural customers, particularly the elderly ones.

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