The ANZ bank branch in Cooktown. Photo: Supplied.
A Cape York town is in desperate need of would-be bankers to apply for outstanding jobs as the local ANZ branch struggles to maintain opening hours.
Cooktown ANZ branch’s broken ATM has also prompted an outcry from annoyed residents keen to get banking errands done.
Cook Shire Council Mayor Robyn Holmes – who took to social media after she became aware of the issues – told the Cape York Weekly she was hopeful positions at the 115 Charlotte St, Cooktown bank would soon be filled and the ATM would be fixed. At least one position at the bank has been vacant for four months.
“ANZ has been trying to recruit a person for five days a week without success. That was one of the reasons why they reduced the hours, because they had to work with the staff they had. And they were closing because they didn’t have staff to come in,” Ms Holmes said.
“People come into town from surrounding communities to do their banking and the branch is closed.
“I’m not laying any blame on the local branch – you can’t really lay any blame if no-one’s there to do the work.”
Ms Holmes urged the community to refrain from taking frustrations out on local ANZ workers.
Cook Shire Council Mayor Robyn Holmes has urged community members to apply for jobs at the local bank. Photo: Cook Shire Council.
“I think it’s really hard for ANZ. And I think the local staff are really feeling for the community, but there’s only so much they can handle,” she said.
“My message to the community is, well, someone needs to step up and take a little bit of responsibility and get a job.”
The closest banks to the Cooktown ANZ are in Cairns, Mareeba and Weipa.
Keen to see the bank continue with regular opening hours, Ms Holmes has even been putting the feelers out for bank workers herself.
“I know there’s a couple of people moving up to Cooktown. I actually rang them and said, ‘Are you guys going to be looking for work?'” the mayor said.
Meanwhile, ANZ told the mayor in recent days the branch ATM had been “subject to multiple incidents of vandalism over the past few months” and it was “working towards replacing the existing machine with a new ATM before the end of the year”.
Ms Holmes said she understood the cost of fixing the ATM could easily reach six figures.
“They’re (ANZ) even looking at putting a grill around the ATM and only having it accessible at certain times if people continue to vandalise it,” she said.
ANZ was contacted for comment and a spokeswoman said: “We understand the importance of accessible banking services to the Cooktown community and we are taking practical steps to maintain access for customers while we strengthen our local team and services.”
“We are actively recruiting for our Cooktown branch and continue to invest in the people and resources needed to provide reliable face-to-face and phone banking services for the local community,” she said.
“Alongside our recruitment efforts, ANZ employees from across our branch network are assisting in Cooktown to help maintain services and minimise disruption for local customers.
“We are progressing the replacement of the SmartATM, with a new ATM expected to be in place before the end of the year.
“Our Cooktown team looks forward to continuing to help customers achieve their financial goals, whether that’s buying a home, growing a business or managing their everyday banking needs.”
About two years ago, ANZ confirmed it would maintain regional branch numbers in Australia for at least three years.
