Southern Ruapehu loses Postbank

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 565, 6 December 1994, Page 11

Southern Ruapehu loses Postbank

By

Michele

Monaghan

The Waiouru branch of Postbank officially closed its doors for the last time on Friday. With the closure, three people have lost their jobs. Branch Manager Lois Barnes and bank officers Sue Rodger and Jackie McMahon all have to rethink their future. Mrs Barnes, who has been with Postbank for 17 years, said she is moving to Hawkes Bay. "I won't do anything for a little while. I'll have a couple of months off. The last couple of weeks have

been quite stressful," she said. Mrs Barnes said the closure of the Waiouru branch had been on the cards for quite some time. "Ever since the introduction of the Night and Day cards. If they (thecustomer) are going to the machines, they're not coming to us." Mrs Barnes said she would not like to comment on the number of people who have closed their accounts with the bank and moved elsewhere. Mrs Barnes said that she had enjoyed working with the girls.

"Fve enjoyed working here and the girls have been great and I'll miss them." One is Mrs Rodger, who has been with Postbank for two years. Prior to that she spent 13 years with New Zealand Post. Mrs Rodger said she has found another j ob in W aiouru dealing with computers and bank balancing. She also agrees that the closure of the branch is linked with the introduction of the Night and Day card. "You noticed the actual decline (incustomers)," she said. The last staff member, Mrs McMahon, has worked at the bank on a casual and part time basis since July last year. She said she plans to go and live in Turkey or Greece as her husband is picked to go on the next peacekeeping rotation to Bosnia (due in March). Waiouru businesses will definitely feel the effect of the Postbank closure. SevTURNTOPAGE12

Southern Ruapehu loses Postbank FROM PAGE 11 eral business owners have expressed the opinion that the closure of the bank will mean beneficiaries from outlying areas who previously came to the Waiouru Postbank, will no longer be spending their money within the Waiouru business community. The impact of the closure remains to be seen. — The closure of bank leaves the entire Southern Ruapehu district without a Postbank. The nearest Postbanks are now Taihape, Taumarunui and Turangi.