The Commonwealth Bank has canceled cash withdrawals and deposits at special branches across Australia
Some Commbank branches have gone ‘cashless’ earlier this year ANZ said they did too
The Commonwealth Bank has opened a number of ‘cashless’ branches where customers cannot access their money over-the-counter.
Teller cash transactions are not available at branches including nearby South Evely, Barangaroo and the University of Sydney, including Commonwealth Bank Place in central Sydney, which the bank now calls ‘specialist centres’.
Daily Mail Australia also understands that some ‘specialist centre’ branches in Brisbane and Melbourne no longer allow over the counter cash withdrawals and deposits.
Deposits and withdrawals can still be made through on-site ATMs but things become more difficult for those who don’t have a bank card handy.
Over-the-counter cash transactions have been quietly removed at some Commonwealth Bank branches
A ‘cardless cash’ withdrawal of up to $500 a day is available using the CommBank app, but those who need more funds or don’t have their phone with them, won’t be able to access the money.
Customers need to find a branch that still offers teller transactions and travel there.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Combank for comment.
The move to cashless branches follows another of Australia’s ‘big four’ banks, which made the switch with little caution.
ANZ said in March it was withdrawing some of its services and certain branches would no longer carry cash.
The bank did not reveal at the time which branches would be affected but insisted only a ‘small number’ would be affected.
An ANZ customer, Taryn Comptyn, went to her local ANZ bank branch to withdraw $3,500 over the counter for a renovation payment because she didn’t have her bank card with her.
“I thought ‘OK’ I’ll just go to Taylor,” he said in an online video.
‘The teller proceeded to tell me that they don’t have cash in the bank anymore, you can only get it out through the ATM but he said, ‘don’t worry I’ll set you up with a card so you can tap it instead of your card’.
However, when Ms Comptyn tried her temporary card at the ATM it repeatedly brought up an error message.
Ms Comptin said the teller suggested she could transfer the cash to another bank account – if she had one – and access it there.
‘Luckily for me I was at another bank so I transferred every single penny to that account, closed the account while I was there and went and got my money from another bank,’ Ms Comptin said.
In March, ANZ announced that some of its branches in Victoria would no longer carry cash other than ATMs
ANZ customer Taryn Compton only found out when she tried to access her cash
In a statement, ANZ said it stood by its move to go cashless behind the counter – and clarified which branches were affected.
A spokesman said: ‘At ANZ we have seen in-branch transactions fall by 50 per cent over the past five years, with only one per cent of transactions now conducted over the counter and 96 per cent conducted digitally.’
‘Some ANZ branches no longer handle cash over the counter, but cash continues to be available through our onsite Smart ATMs.’
ANZ said the affected branches were all located in metropolitan areas and within 10km of the nearest branch with over-the-counter services.
‘At these branches, cash and check deposits and cash withdrawals can continue using our smart ATMs and coin deposit machines, and we have staff on hand to help customers use them for the first time.
‘These branches are all located in metropolitan areas and within 10km of the next nearest branch with over-the-counter services.’