Junee General Manager James Davis.
Junee’s Commonwealth Bank sits proudly in Junee as a reminder of the power of local community and what can happen when residents stand up to large corporations.
After saving the Junee branch of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA), Council established regular meetings with staff from the bank. These meetings have been occurring approximately quarterly and have been attended by local and Wagga based staff.
Major decisions are more than likely made by head office in Sydney. The Mayor, General Manager, CFO and Director Corporate and community held one of the said meetings with a representative from the CBA on Wednesday, 14 May.
In attendance was Mr Norm Swift, Regional General Manager, along with the local Branch Manager, Bella McIntyre and three other CBA staff.
The issues discussed according to Council were:
• Mr Swift advised that the moratorium for branch closures has been extended to the end of June 2027. He stressed the bank was not considering closing the bank.
• We were told that Junee was now the model that the bank used for consultation with Local Government across Australia.
• Mr Swift indicated that the bank had picked up several new customers who were now banking with them rather than through them.
• Council indicated that it was about to draw down on a loan of about $950,000 and that the business was likely to go to the CBA due to the presence of the branch.
• Council indicated that it has subscribed to the CBA information product, Data IQ, and that it was being used by Council’s Business Development Officer. Mr Swift expressed his delight about this and said that there were significant improvements planned for the product.
• Council’s General Manager indicated that he would like Mr Swift to present to a half yearly meeting of Junee Business and Trades.
• The General Manager also asked that an opening for a full day be considered by the bank. Mr Swift indicated that they were open to all suggestions.
• Mr Swift also said that Junee were doing all the right things to keep the bank in town.
• The current Branch Manager indicated that she had been promoted to another role within the bank.
Mr Swift indicated that the position for a new manager of Junee/Temora is being advertised and that he is confident that a candidate will be appointed.
The meeting was encouraging with several positive issues discussed. Council said it was encouraging that such a senior member of the CBA staff made the effort to attend and make input into this meeting.
-Jack Murray
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