AN IRATE Commonwealth Bank customer is staging a public protest meeting in a bid to prevent the closure of the Millicent branch.
The George Street landmark is slated for closure on May 8 throwing into doubt four staff positions and a large commercial building erected almost 60 years ago.
The situation has distressed Millicent resident Dorothy Carr to the extent she has decided to hold a community forum.
It will be held at the Millicent Italian Social Club at 7pm on March 20.
A customer of more than 30 years, Ms Carr is hopeful of large turnout in order to convince the bank’s senior management to have a change of heart.
She has appreciated the good level of personal service provided by the staff of the Millicent branch.
“In my opinion, the Millicent branch closure means the Commonwealth Bank is not giving back to its customers,” Ms Carr said.
“The bank is letting us down.”
“The closure will have an impact on all of Millicent and especially the pensioners,” Ms Carr said.
“I have seen them on pension payment day and they come into the bank with their passbooks and withdraw their cash.
“The bank says they will be still be able to do at the Millicent post office but there will be an impact there.”
Ms Carr has phoned senior bank management in Adelaide and queried the need for the bank closure.
She claimed the area manager said the bank would not be represented at the protest meeting but might send a written statement to be read out aloud.
“We need a lot of people to turn up on the night.
“I have been stopping people in the street and asking them about the closure.
“It is very sad and people are riled up.
“I think of the situation at Cadell on the River Murray about seven years ago when the State Government wanted to take away its ferry.
“Cadell is much smaller than Millicent but the people staged a successful protest.
“The ferry service was saved and even a new ferry was put in place.”
Ms Carr has also approached Wattle Range Council and she was hopeful a representative would attend the meeting.
In a previous statement, the bank said the closure had been due to a decline in face-to-face transactions and the preference by Millicent customers for online banking services.
Since the March 20 protest meeting was announced this week, The South Eastern Times has again approached the bank for comment.
Spokesperson Jacky Aboud said the bank will not be represented at the protest meeting.
“We understand some customers may be concerned, so we want to assure them that during the transition period, our people are on hand to help familiarise them with all the banking options available,” Ms Aboud said.
She declined to comment on the future of the building and the four branch employees.
