David Littleproud
October 21, 2016
Federal Member for Maranoa David Littleproud has slammed Suncorp Bank’s decision to close its Kingaroy branch, along with a number of other branches, on January 20.
He has called on the bank to release its customer usage rates to justify the closures, and also suggested businesses boycott Suncorp-related products such as insurance.
The former banker – and Suncorp’s former Regional Agribusiness Manager for South West Queensland – wasn’t pulling any punches with his old employer on Friday.
“The bank needs to come clean about this data to prove why it’s shutting branches, because I believe these communities are entitled to know the trigger point that kicked off this blanket closure,” he said.
“I have made urgent representations to the CEO, requesting this data be released to give the affected communities an understanding of why the bank has closed these local branches and prove to them this decision was not just a case of profit over people.”
Mr Littleproud said the only consolation in the closures is that he had been assured by Suncorp that impacted branch staff will be able to continue to work online for the bank in their home towns.
“The humble beginnings of Suncorp in my electorate seem to be in stark contrast to the bank’s decision to close four rural branches,” he said.
“This out-of-touch mentality has been enabled by successive state governments failing to maintain the requirements for the bank’s Board to reside in Queensland following the privatisation of the bank.
“Whether you or your business banks with Suncorp, or you’re insured with one of the 10 companies owned by Suncorp, I ask customers to vote with their feet and no longer support a bank that doesn’t support rural communities.”
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Mr Littleproud said he had also made urgent representation to Heritage Bank CEO after reports the Toowoomba based bank has been closing mini-branches in the South Burnett and elsewhere.
He has also sought customer usage rates for each of the mini branches set to close.
A spokesperson for the MP said there was no community engagement or notification that these facilities were in danger of being closed.
“He believes the community is entitled to know why these mini-branches are closing or, at the very least, be given an opportunity to increase their support of any essential services that may be underutilised,” the spokesperson said.
Another nail in the coffin for four country towns/regions ie Kingaroy, Stanthorpe, Goondiwindi and Miles to be no longer serviced by a long-standing business in the community. Obviously another decision by some extremely highly paid CEO sitting in his/her Ivory Tower in the city, driven by the need to make $$$ for shareholders etc (and to pay the huge salary for making these decisions). Forget about the impact it will have on these four towns, especially Kingaroy, and the Suncorp clients when the business closes on January 20, 2017.
I guess the expectation is that business will continue to be conducted via the Internet or by phone. THINK AGAIN!!
I for one will be closing my bank accounts with Suncorp and transfer to one of the other local banks and I will also seek another insurance company for home & contents and motor vehicle policies etc. Suncorp will be the loser as such, not this Little Black Duck.
Yes I agree with Daryl. I, too, will be closing my accounts with them and going elsewhere. I don’t do internet banking and never will. Everyone should vote with their feet and change banks.
Myself and my wife will be looking at closing our accounts with Suncorp, so many places have closed in Kingaroy, Kingaroy is a dying, don’t want anymore places closing.
Suncorp in Maryborough closes next month causing no end of problems for the town and places on the Fraser Coast. Pensioners now have to change banks not knowing if they too will close. It requires letters to pension funds etc etc. It’s a total pain and very hard for elderly people unfamiliar with computers. This town has many shop closures. The town seems to be dying slowly but surely. Greedy CEOs have no interest or care for rural towns they are a disgrace in fact the rich fat cats of this country are disgusting elitists how much money do they want? More and more that’s what.