The last few years have seen many banks and other businesses move away from in person contact, and shift their operations into the digital space, for good or ill.

ANZ General Manager for New South Wales, Michael Wake, said ANZ's latest closures are in response to the growing trend.

"One of the biggest changes we have seen in recent years is the number of people who have moved to online options to do everything from watching films and grocery shopping to managing their Medicare and banking," he told the Argus.

"In the last year alone, 70 per cent of our customers preferred digital banking options, and our few remaining passbook-only customers have been choosing to use debit cards for the first time.

"There has been a longer term trend that has seen our in-branch transactions drop on average about 50 per cent over the past four years. Customers are not using branches like they used to."

There are plenty of people in the community, that for one reason or another, rely on an operating branch to conduct their banking; the nearest locations to the Macleay will now be Coffs Harbour or Port Macquarie.

Michael says there are also other options available for people who will struggle to adjust to the closure in Kempsey.

"We recognise the transition will be more challenging for some customers, particularly in rural or remote locations where there can be a greater travel burden and less reliable general services overall," he said.

"ANZ has a dedicated team that proactively calls elderly and vulnerable customers in areas where branches are closing to help them set up and navigate the ANZ App.

"The team also assists them with other options, including phone banking, accessing bank cheques, setting up a PayID via internet banking and paying their credit card via Card Pay direct."

At this stage, there will also be at least one ATM remaining for ANZ customers in Kempsey to use.

"Our intention is to leave a Smart ATM in Kempsey where customers can do many of the same transactions they could in a branch," Michael said.

"This Smart ATM will provide customers with a simple, quick and convenient way to make withdrawals and to deposit cheques and banknotes.

"Customers who wish to make large cash withdrawals via an ATM can make a special arrangement to increase their daily limit; this can be organised by calling ANZ on 13 13 14."

Now the local branch is officially closing, the local staff will be left with a few different possibilities moving forward.

"Those who wish to stay with ANZ, we will make every effort to find redeployment opportunities within the bank," Michael said.

"For all employees who leave, we will provide access to career coaching and outplacement support as well as access to our career training fund, which we have doubled this year.

"Where people face financial hardship after leaving ANZ, we will provide access to our Past Employee Care Fund to support them."

Along with Kempsey, 14 other ANZ bank branches around the country will close before the end of the year, including:

NSW

Victoria

Western Australia

ANZ posted a statutory profit of of $A3.58 billion after tax for its 2020 full-year result.

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