BY IAN CROUCH
Frontline banking services in the Hunter are about to take anther hit, with the Newcastle Permanent announcing its Fletcher and Medowie branches will close on Friday March 26.
In a statement, the bank says the leases on the branches are expiring and there's been a 30 percent fall in branch use over the past 5 years.
It follows the closure of Newcastle Perm branches at Nelson Bay, Cardiff, Mayfield and Maitland in March last year and it's King Street Head Office, Lambton, John Hunter and University branches in 2018.
The Perm is not the only financial institution closing branches, with the Greater Bank closing its Lambton and Jesmond outlets and the Commonwealth Bank looking set to close its Wallsend branch, which hasn't reopened 9 months after closing its doors.
Wallsend MP, Sonia Hornery says closing bank branches has a major impact on older residents and the disabled, many of whom aren't registered for online banking.
"We know now that Newcastle Perm has closed over 50% of their branches in the Hunter area. They want the customers, they want the profits, but they want everybody to go digital and that's almost impossible for many people over 70," she said.
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| The Perm will close its Fletcher and Medowie branches in March |
