WESTPAC will close a number of branches throughout the state including Leongatha.

The Westpac Banking Group will close branches under the Westpac, Bank of Melbourne or St George brands in Victoria including Leongatha, Morwell, Bentleigh, Colac, Eltham, Greythorn, Portland, Reservoir, South Yarra and Werribee.

“This is a low act, and shameful behaviour from Westpac which pushes customers onto the scrapheap when a branch fails to meet its targets for new sales of banking products and a continuing boost to profits,” said Finance Sector Union (FSU) National Secretary Julia Angrisano.

“Shutting down branches means Westpac will continue to put profits before people. The bank quite plainly doesn’t care about forcing inconvenience on customers and throwing affected staff onto unemployment queues.”

Ms Angrisano said Westpac’s obscene race to boost profits was crippling the economies of many towns and important agricultural regions. 

“This race to shut branches has to stop and it’s time the Federal Government imposed a minimum service standard on the banks to make sure customers are protected.”

Westpac has been contacted for further comment.