Commonwealth Bank Guarantees Regional Branches Open Until 2030
Commonwealth Bank of Australia will keep all 281 regional branches open until December 2030 and invest $140 million to upgrade branch services.
The Commonwealth Bank of Australia announced it will extend its moratorium on regional branch closures until at least December 2030. The guarantee ensures that 281 regional branches remain open, providing stability for approximately 3,000 employees and maintaining face-to-face banking and cash access for rural customers. This move follows a similar extension by Westpac last year and stems from a February 2023 Senate inquiry into rural service closures.
Alongside the moratorium, the bank is investing $140 million to upgrade branch layouts and technology to reduce wait times and increase access to specialist bankers. Despite Reserve Bank data showing weekly cash usage dropped from 97% in 2007 to 50% in 2025, the bank pledged to continue supporting cash. CBA also maintains a partnership with Australia Post until 2032 to provide banking services at 3,300 locations.
Reactions to the announcement were mixed. Nationals leader Matt Canavan described the commitment as the "bare minimum" and urged the federal government to rebuild regional services already lost. The Finance Sector Union welcomed the decision but criticized the bank for closing or announcing the closure of 29 metropolitan branches this year despite posting record profits, calling for the moratorium to be extended to city locations.
