Residents met with Westpac regional general manager Barry Ruddy this month to put forward their case for the branch to be left alone, rather than become part of the services at Australia Post across the road.

Branch supporter Elaine Bastion said while the talks had been cordial, Mr Ruddy had given no indication Westpac would rethink its plan.

“Mr Ruddy is well informed on small-town issues and the effect adverse changes can have,” Mrs Bastion said in a statement.

“The bottom line, though, as firmly expressed by Mr Ruddy, is Westpac will not be changing or making any exceptions in the transferring of Manilla Westpac customers to the local post office.

“We are saddened that a company like Westpac – which is making profits in the billions of dollars and show on their website the worthwhile innovations, grants and fundings they sponsor/partner for many of our communities, the Pacific Islands and disadvantaged in many areas – don’t ‘get’ what folk in Manilla feel like with the direct withdrawal of what I have heard is ‘a real bank’ from their town. 

“Surely some of that corporate innovation could have been applied to loyal customers.”

Mrs Bastion said it was “a further example of the disregard that regional Australia receives from large corporations”.

Manilla’s instore proprietor, Nardeen Hayden, has previously described the new arrangement as a “glorified ATM” and said people with limited understanding of, or access to, the internet would be left out in the cold.

Mrs Bastion said there were concerns about the long-term viability of banking services being offered out of a post office, as well as compliance issues with non-bank staff handling inquiries and giving advice.

She said the supporters’ next step was to take their concerns to Consumer Affairs and Fair Trading, and the NSW Ombudsman.