OFFICERS CLUB Inc.
representing Officers and families of
The Commercial Banking Company of Sydney Limited
and its subsidiaries & affiliates.

World War II Roll of Honour at Head Office:

   click icon for enlargement         

BANK BRANCHES CLOSED during World War II:

MORE BANK BRANCHES TO BE CLOSED

Total of 500 branches must close

 This month 74 more trading bank branches will be closed, bringing the total number closed to 414.

To reach the required total of 500, 86 more have to be closed.

This was revealed on Saturday by Mr Dedman,  Minister for War Organisation of Industry, who said thebanks were last year asked to submit a plan for closing branches in order to release manpower, equipment, and buildings.

Most of the branches being closed were in towns with 2 or more branches.

The original number of banks in Australia before rationalisation was 2,481, apart from the CommonwealthBank.

 These were distributed as follows:

 NSW                   854 

Victoria                727

Queensland         406

SA                        214

WA                       212 

Tasmania                60 

Canberra                   4 

NorthernTerritory     4.

Mr Dedman added that it was interesting to compare what was being done in Britain.

The Kennett Committee on Manpower in Banking made an exhaustive survey of  the position, and reached  the conclusion that release of labour must be sought from amalgamation of separate banks, closing of branches, modification of methods of work, reduction of services rendered, and use of part-time workers.

In all such steps care was to be taken to avoid interference with necessary public service.

Mr Dedman emphasised the similarity of approach in England to that which was being followed in Australia.