I write to advise that unfortunately, we have not been successful in convincing the Commonwealth Bank to keep its branch at Kenmore Village open.

Despite our best efforts with a petition attracting more than 1,400 signatures, letters to senior executives and strong local media coverage, the Commonwealth Bank has ignored its many customers in the western suburbs who requested the branch be retained.

I was advised on Wednesday - two weeks after writing to the Commonwealth Bank CEO and two days before the scheduled closure – that there would be no change of heart. This is both disappointing and illogical and simply confirms what people have been saying to me that the CBA puts profit before people.

I’m sorry for the many customers, particularly the elderly who wished to continue conducting their banking business face to face and the many small business operators who will now be inconvenienced having to travel to larger shopping centres to do something that used to take 10 minutes at Kenmore. And I’m sorry I couldn’t convince the bank that they were making the wrong decision.

It makes a mockery of their own mission statement to “secure and enhance the financial well-being of people, businesses, and communities”.

What the decision makers at the CBA continue to fail to understand is that directing its customers to the Kenmore Village Post Office to undertake their banking business actually creates more problems than it solves. The Post Office is already busy enough with its own core business activities without adding banking to the list.

Its all very well for the Commonwealth Bank to crow about a $5.45 billion half yearly profit but at what price?

Like many other disappointed local customers, I will be reviewing my association with the Commonwealth Bank. Its not likely to create any impact on their bottom line but its one small way of making our disappointment known.

Thanks again for your support by signing this petition. Be assured we gave it our best shot.

Kind regards,

Cr. Greg Adermann