Coalition pledge to expand Australia Post banking services
Australia Post would extend its banking services further into rural and remote areas under a AUD9.7 million plan announced by the coalition today.
With the big banks having pulled out of many small communities in recent years, the post office has become the only place in some towns where people can do their banking.
Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson said a coalition government would spend AUD9.7 million over four years to set up banking services in an extra 266 licensed post offices.
People in rural NSW towns such as Bellata, Garah, Pallamallawa, Tottenham and Trundle would then be able to access banking services through their post offices for the first time.
“Australia Post provides critical banking services to many rural communities through its giroPost system,” Mr Anderson said.
“The coalition government extended the system to handle business banking in 1999, but the service is currently only available at outlets that handle a minimum of 12,000 transactions a year.
“Under our Bank@Post policy, a re-elected coalition government will extend Australia Post’s banking services to another 266 licensed post offices that handle a minimum of 2,500 transactions a year.”
Mr Anderson said many bank customers would not have to change banks, because most of Australia’s major financial institutions were linked to the giroPost system.
