Westpac closures reflect bigger trend affecting small town New ZealandJOHN BISSET/FAIRFAX NZ If the Westpac branch in Fairlie closes the town will be left without a bank. For some affected communities, such as the small South Island town of Fairlie, a branch closure would deliver a big blow. Small towns did not have large enough populations with enough business and transactions to warrant a bank's presence, he said. Residents in small communities needed to understand they would not have easy access to services like banks in the future, he said. If another bank branch was closer than the nearest Westpac then customers should switch to that bank, she said.

Source: Stuff August 23, 2016 05:48 UTC