Australian Bank Closes 45 Branches to Become Digital Only

Bankwest will become a digital-only bank, closing 45 branches in Western Australia and transitioning 15 to Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) branches. The bank is planning to convert to a digital bank completely by October 2024, closing or converting all the remaining bank branches it operates in Australia. Explaining the change, the bank claimed 97 percent of transactions are now completed digitally and only two percent of customers visit a branch. Bankwest closed the Subiaco branch in Perth after 60 years of service in July 2023, and a further three Perth metro branches in late 2023. In 2022, the bank closed all 14 branches on the east coast of Australia and reduced opening hours at regional branches in Western Australia (WA)....