More than 1,600 bank branches closed nationally in the past six years, new data shows, with 309 branches axed in the last financial year alone.
The latest data from the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA), released on Wednesday, revealed in the financial year ending June 2022, 96 branches closed in NSW, 57 closed in Queensland, and 88 closed in Victoria.
APRA's annual authorised deposit-taking points of presence data followed last month's federal task force report into regional banking.
The report recommended banks improve their branch closure protocols and communications to customers, while noting customers' increasing preference for online banking.
This years' branch closures represent a 7 per cent decline in the number of branch-level banking services across the country in one year.
Between 2017 and 2022, the number of bank branches nationally dropped almost 30 per cent.
An Australian Banking Association spokesperson said banks were "investing heavily in digital functionality and the security expected by their growing number of digital customers".
"Australian banks understand that there are still customers who need face-to-face services and those who need extra support in transitioning to digital services," the spokesperson said.
"Banks are working directly with both personal and business customers to provide solutions that meet their needs."
The six-year data included temporary closures of some branches and banking services during 2020 and 2021, when COVID-19 measures forced many banks to close their doors.
More than 200 of the latest branch closures were in metropolitan cities.
Some banks, such as ING, only offer phone and online banking, with agreements for customers to access their funds at ATMs through shared services.
The closures come as more Australians than ever are using online banking, with the federal task force report revealing 89 per cent of regional Australians used online banking.
But the report also noted bank branch and ATM access was key for many Australians who needed more support in completing their banking.
More closures to come
Data supplied to ABC Brisbane from the Financial Services Union, representing finance industry workers, revealed ANZ alone closed 54 branches in 2021 and 2022, and Westpac had closed or announced the closure of 145 branches.
Financial Services Union national secretary Julia Angrisano said Westpac had notified the union of plans to shut 23 branches this year, potentially losing more than 90 jobs.
Ms Angrisano said the bank was "on the verge of abandoning its social contract with the community".
"We need the federal government to step in and stop the banks from deserting regional Australia," she said.
"Banks can't be trusted to do the right thing by regional communities because when considering whether to close branches, they only consider their massive profits and the bonuses of senior executives.
"They don't care about bank staff and the communities which will be impacted by their decisions to shut branch doors."
The ABA spokesperson said banks would "remain a key partner in regional communities to ensure customers have access to the services they need".
ATMs axed
More than 1,345 ATMs were also shuttered nationally last year, with 402 closed in NSW, 259 in Queensland, and 362 closed in Victoria — a 17 per cent decline in one year.
Metropolitan regions lost the most ATMs, with 963 closed across the year, and 254 removed from inner regional areas.
Impacts to the outer regions were slightly smaller, with 12 per cent of available ATMs closed, while remote Australia lost another 17 ATMs, or 13 per cent of total availability.
Other points of service, such as Australia Post outlets offering banking services, were also affected, with 10 closing in NSW, 12 in Queensland, and three in Victoria.
