Despite concern from some customers about the closure of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia's Wingham branch, a spokesperson for the company says it's simply part of a temporary measure to redirect staff where they're needed during the coronavirus pandemic.
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Around 500 staff from 114 branches across the country have been moved to Australian-based call centres and online teams to help deal with the amount of people seeking financial assistance.
"Since the pandemic was declared in early March, we have received more than one million calls and online requests for help," the spokesperson said.
"In particular, calls to our hardship line have increased by 800 per cent compared to the period before the pandemic."
In addition to the increase in calls and online requests, foot traffic at a number of branches has fallen dramatically, the spokesperson said.
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It is understood that no staff members at Wingham or any other branches have been stood down. It is also understood that staff were consulted in advance about the closures and their reassigned positions.
While no definitive answer could be provided in regards to when the Wingham branch would be operating again, the spokesperson suggested the company would look to reopen its temporarily closed branches in the next six months.
"To minimise inconvenience for branch customers, the vast majority of the temporary closures will occur at branches where another branch is operating, normally within five kilometres," the spokesperson said.
"Our ATMs at temporarily-closed branches will continue to operate as normal. Customers will also be able to use our Bank@Post service at Australia Post offices to do day-to-day transactional banking."
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