The Aporia · CBA commits to cash and will keep hundreds of regional branches open until 2030

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) has extended its commitment to keep hundreds of regional branches open until December 2030 and maintain cash accessibility despite declining usage. CBA’s decision follows Westpac's similar moratorium extension last year. The bank attributes this move to customer certainty, especially for those preferring face-to-face interactions, and the opportunity to attract business banking clients in rural areas. Despite a significant drop in cash usage from 97% of Australians weekly in 2007 to 50% in 2025, CBA remains committed to supporting cash transactions and will invest an additional $140 million to improve branch services nationwide.

Written by AI on 2026-10-01, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

Story summary

On Thursday, Commonwealth Bank (CBA) announced it would extend its moratorium on closing regional bank branches until at least December 2030. This extension comes despite declining foot traffic in many of the bank's locations due to increasing customer preference for digital banking services. CBA currently operates over 600 branches and 1700 ATMs across Australia, making it the country’s largest banking network.

Additionally, CBA committed to maintaining widespread access to cash even as its usage has dropped significantly. According to data from the Reserve Bank, in a typical week, cash use by Australians fell from 97% in 2007 to just 50% in 2025. Despite this trend, CBA pledged to support cash access long-term.

CBA retail bank group Angus Sullivan emphasized that the commitment to cash is part of a broader strategy aligned with customer needs and expectations. He noted that as surcharges are removed from card and digital payments transactions, electronic payment methods will likely see further adoption. The decision by CBA reflects its enduring commitment to both traditional and modern banking services in regional areas.

Written for “CBA Branch Network Preservation” on 2026-11-02, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

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CBA head of customer service network Samantha Taranto said the bank was seeing foot traffic across many branches falling as customers transitioned to digital banking. “And as the digital pathways improve, we do see traffic into branches across regional and metro areas gradually reducing,” she said.

framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-10-01

🔮 On Thursday, Commonwealth Bank announced it would extend its regional banking moratorium – which was due to end in July next year – for a further three years.

2026-10-01 · The Sydney Morning Herald

CBA commits to cash and will keep hundreds of regional branches open until 2030 · assertive framing

The country’s biggest bank has promised to keep its hundreds of regional branches open until at least December 2030, even as foot traffic has fallen, and pledged to maintain widespread access to cash despite a drop in usage. asserted

traffic → promise → usage

On Thursday, Commonwealth Bank announced it would extend its regional banking moratorium – which was due to end in July next year – for a further three years. asserted

which → announce → years

Competitor Westpac extended its moratorium on rural bank branch closures to 2030 last year. asserted

Westpac → extend → 2030

CBA, which has the biggest banking network in the country with more than 600 branches and 1700 ATMs, has also committed to keeping cash accessible, even as Reserve Bank data shows cash usage in a typical week has fallen from 97 per cent of Australians in 2007 to 50 per cent in 2025. asserted

usage → have → 2025

CBA retail bank group Angus Sullivan said the bank maintained a “long-term enduring commitment” to cash despite reduced usage. asserted

bank → say → usage

“As surcharges are removed from credit and debit transactions electronically at the point of sale, I’m guessing that will further support electronic payments,” he said. asserted

he → remove → payments

“The trend with cash is clear, but we’ve got a commitment to support cash.” asserted

we → get → cash

The ban on surcharges for card and digital payments came into effect earlier on Thursday. asserted

ban → come → Thursday

CBA boss Matt Comyn said while the share of transactions settled using cash continued to fall, the total number over the past one or two years was “larger than you think”. asserted

you → say → years

He also said he could not foresee “any conceivable timeline” when the bank would not be supporting cash. uncertain

bank → say → cash

she → say → areas

But Comyn said some customers would continue to have a “heavy orientation” towards face-to-face banking, and the decision to pause regional bank closures was aimed at giving customers certainty. asserted

decision → say → certainty

Sullivan said having a physical presence in the regions would also help the bank win over business banking customers. asserted

bank → say → customers

“As any deadline tends to loom, even if it’s a year away, people start asking questions about what’s happening,” he said. asserted

he → tend → questions

“We know uncertainty isn’t great for people... and we see a lot of opportunity in the regions.” asserted

we → know → regions

Sullivan said employees in some very remote communities worked in branches with reduced service hours, but the bank tried to find full-time work for them where possible. asserted

bank → say → them

“They spend time serving [in person] customers when the branch is open, and then when the branch is closed to customers, we give them other work: it could be on the phone, or it could be messaging with customers.” uncertain

it → spend → customers

CBA also has a partnership with Australia Post in place until 2032, giving customers access to banking services at a further 3300 locations. asserted

CBA → have → locations

The bank announced it would also spend a further $140 million to improve branches across Australia, including reducing wait times, improving responsiveness and personal branch service, and making it more convenient to access lenders, specialist and business bankers, including in metro locations. asserted

it → announce → locations

The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. asserted

newsletter → deliver → stories

CBA commits to cash and will keep hundreds of regional branches open until 2030

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