ANZ customer closes her account after being told she can't withdraw cash
'It’s enough that they’re closing branches left, right and centre across the country, now a bank has no cash – it’s like a pub with no freaking beer!'
A frustrated ANZ customer has closed her bank account on the spot after being told by staff that she couldn’t withdraw her money because they are a ‘cashless’ branch.
Brisbane mum Taryn Compton appeared on Channel 9's breakfast show Today on Tuesday morning, where she explained to host Karl Stefanovic that she went to her local branch to withdraw $3500 – money she needed for home renovations.
When she got to the bank, she realised she didn’t have her bank card on her and proceeded inside the branch to get help from a teller.
"She told me they don't have cash at the bank to give people anymore," Ms Compton said.
She added the teller then tried to help her set up the ANZ app on her phone to make withdrawals through the ATM outside, but the technology wouldn’t work, leaving her without her cash.
A stunned Karl Stefanovic likened the situation to “a pub with no beer”.
“It’s enough that they’re closing branches left, right and centre across the country, now a bank has no cash – it’s like a pub with no freaking beer! Huh?”
“Crazy right?” Ms Compton agreed.
"The teller told me that if I wanted to get my cash out, if I needed it that day, to transfer it to another bank and try somewhere else so that's what I did," she said.
“It’s just really got me questioning the whole banking system in general to be honest. If you can't get your own money from a branch, what's the point of a bank?”
On her Facebook page, Ms Compton said it was “lucky” she had a separate account with a different bank that she could transfer her funds to – but instead of just sending over $3500, she transferred “every single penny” out of the ANZ account and requested it be closed.
As the interview on Today came to a close, Stefanovic continued his rant, labelling ANZ’s statement defending the decision to go cash-free “absolute rubbish”.
Yahoo News understands not all ANZ branches are cashless, and the cashless branches are contained to metropolitan areas.
Read the full statement below:
“At ANZ we have seen in-branch transactions fall 50 per cent over the past five years, with just one per cent of transactions now done over the counter and 96 per cent conducted digitally," a spokesperson said.
"Some ANZ branches no longer handle cash at the counter, but continue to have cash available through our onsite Smart ATMs.
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"At these branches, cash and cheque deposits and cash withdrawals can continue to be made by using our Smart ATM and coin deposit machines, and we have staff on hand to help customers using them for the first time.
"These branches are all located in metropolitan areas and are within 10km of the next nearest branch with over-the-counter services. Customers can find out more about their closest branch at anz.com.au/locations."
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