Westpac cuts 200 bank teller jobs, aims to retrain staff   :( 
Westpac is the latest bank to make major staff changes, cutting 200 customer-facing roles but saying these staff can go into other parts of the bank.


News.com.au
September 24, 2025

Westpac is cutting 200 bank teller jobs but not reducing headcount across the business.

Staff were told in an email on Tuesday about the job losses, as Westpac looks to add 200 bankers to its home lending and small business divisions.

Despite commitments to not close bank branches, Westpac says cutting teller jobs is necessary for its “digital-first strategy”.

But the finance union says it is “callous” for Westpac to make tellers push customers onto digital platforms, ultimately doing themselves out of a job.

Some, not all, of the 200 affected staff will retrain as home lenders.

“Because of the investments we’re making, we’ve already started upskilling our people,” retail banking general manager Damien Macrae told staff in the email.

“In the past 12 months, we have seen 33 of our people take the next step in their career by moving from our branches to become a home finance manager. We expect this number to grow.”

The bank announced 1500 job cuts in May and has put $5m into a “development fund” for staff in this affected wave to retrain.

“We’re making these investments because we recognise the nature of the work we do is changing,” Mr Macrae told staff this week.


“As we discussed today, over the coming year we will appoint around 200 more lenders and bankers to achieve our home lending and small business ambitions.

“At the same time, we will need around 200 fewer tellers and personal bankers’ roles in retail banking.”

Westpac employs 30,000 people across the country and hired 5000 in the past year.

“We adjust the composition of our workforce according to our investment priorities. While we continue to invest in extra bankers, other areas may need fewer resources,” a spokesperson said.

“This means from time to time we make changes that may impact some roles and responsibilities as we actively manage costs and investment. As the skills and capabilities required in banking continue to evolve, so will our workforce.”

The big four banks signed a moratorium in February, agreeing no to close any more regional branches until at least 2027.

In April, Westpac reopened a branch in each of regional NSW, Victoria and Tasmania.

“We’re investing in the regions because we want to support the hardworking Australians who live outside of our capital cities,” chief executive Anthony Miller said at the time.

“We’ve thought long and hard about how we can provide a face-to-face service for our regional customers.

“While most customers prefer to bank online, this new model will allow us to improve the way we help personal, business and agri customers.”

Westpac announced 1500 job cuts in May, and a company spokesperson said this latest change to bank teller numbers would not result in a net-headcount loss.

Finance Sector Union national secretary, Julia Angrisano, said the bank’s digital endeavours had a harsh flip side.

“Westpac is asking loyal tellers to migrate customers to digital services that ultimately eliminate their own jobs. It’s callous and shortsighted,” she said.

“Communities still rely on face-to-face banking and workers should not be sacrificed for cost-cutting dressed up as innovation.”   :(

The union would hold Westpac to its commitment of no overall job losses, Ms Angrisano said.

“We still don’t know how this ‘development fund’ will work, or whether it will genuinely protect jobs.

“Westpac must show leadership by redeploying every affected worker into new roles – not using digital change as an excuse to shed staff.

“This is a test case for what employers should be doing. When roles are cut, workers must be re-skilled and redeployed – not discarded. That’s the standard we expect, and we will fight for it.”

There have been waves of job losses in Australian banks just this month. ANZ is axing 3500 staff plus 1000 contractor roles over the next 12 months.

The day after the ANZ announcement, NAB revealed it was cutting more than 400 technology and enterprise jobs.

In May, Westpac cut 1500 jobs, and Commonwealth Bank has announced 164 job cuts this year.

The Finance Sector Union says 7885 jobs have been cut this year to mid-September, a 70 per cent increase in lay-offs compared with 2024.   :(

Don't tell us we have to use a machine.  We want to be served by a bank teller, not a machine.   :(         

Oh yes and by the way stop closing down the banks.  Far more than enough have already closed down.  Start providing people the service that they want.  More banks, not less.   >:(

whiteknight wrote on Sep 25^th, 2025 at 7:48am:

Don't tell us we have to use a machine.  We want to be served by a bank teller, not a machine.   :(

They have taken away most of the machines here too . . . . .

Spot

bugger the shareholders and profiteers.

All the big banks, including ANZ, and about 80 smaller financial institutions have all signed new contracts with Australia Post that come into effect next month, hence the sudden rush on announcements of staff cuts and branch closures by the banks. This is what, the 3rd or 4th bank in the last month to signal staffing cuts. The banks are banking on Aussie Post doing their job for them.

BankWest have no branches.

None.

Not anywhere.

It's a 100% online bank now.

The rest will go the same way within a year or two.

This is all part of gradually moving us to a cashless society.

Where the government and big business knows exactly how much money everyone has and when/where they spend it.

But, as with everything government does they have to do it slowly, bit by bit, so it doesn't cause too much outrage.

Just like the famous "slowly boiling the frog" metaphor.

Carl D wrote on Sep 25^th, 2025 at 9:07am:

This is all part of gradually moving us to a cashless society. Where the government and big business knows exactly how much money everyone has and when/where they spend it. But, as with everything government does they have to do it slowly, bit by bit, so it doesn't cause too much outrage. Just like the famous "slowly boiling the frog" metaphor.

Well, you can still get cash from the post office but the maximum withdrawal is $2,000.

You're right, cash will one day disappear but this is more about shutting down branches and thus not having to pay rent or wages.

I tell you what - the staff who work at Aust Post need a pay rise.

"I tell you what - the staff who work at Aust Post need a pay rise."

You're right about that. They seem to do 100 extra things apart from just dealing with mail these days.

I've actually said "I think you should be getting a huge pay rise" to one or two of the staff when I've been there and they just laugh as in "yeah, right".

Carl D wrote on Sep 25^th, 2025 at 9:17am:

"I tell you what - the staff who work at Aust Post need a pay rise." You're right about that. They seem to do 100 extra things apart from just dealing with mail these days. I've actually said "I think you should be getting a huge pay rise" to one or two of the staff when I've been there and they just laugh as in "yeah, right".

They have to do so much.

Passports, for example.

I renewed mine recently and the guy at the very small post office I went to was brilliant.

He just works there on his own, but he was very patient and thorough.

I didn't pay for the Fast Track service, but I still received my new passport in two days.   :)

Carl D wrote on Sep 25^th, 2025 at 9:17am:

"I tell you what - the staff who work at Aust Post need a pay rise." You're right about that. They seem to do 100 extra things apart from just dealing with mail these days. I've actually said "I think you should be getting a huge pay rise" to one or two of the staff when I've been there and they just laugh as in "yeah, right".

All post offices are very busy nowadays.
They are banks as well.

Bobby. wrote on Sep 25^th, 2025 at 9:38am:

Carl D wrote on Sep 25th, 2025 at 9:17am: "I tell you what - the staff who work at Aust Post need a pay rise." You're right about that. They seem to do 100 extra things apart from just dealing with mail these days. I've actually said "I think you should be getting a huge pay rise" to one or two of the staff when I've been there and they just laugh as in "yeah, right". All post offices are very busy nowadays. They are banks as well.

Give 'em a pay rise!

https://auspost.com.au/money-insurance/banking-and-paying-bills/bank-at-post

greggerypeccary wrote on Sep 25^th, 2025 at 9:27am:

They have to do so much. Passports, for example.

Land title verification, identity verification for banks etc, travel insurance, foreign currency, banking, passport and ID photos, tax file numbers ... just to name a few