Australia's Bank Branches and ATMs Plummet as Digital Shift Accelerates

Bank branches and ATMs are disappearing across Australia. While digital banking booms, the future of community banking services remains uncertain.

, and Administrator

2025 October 20 . 6:03 AM

1 min read

In the image there is an atm machine in front of the wall beside a pole.

Australia's Bank Branches and ATMs Plummet as Digital Shift Accelerates

Australia's banking landscape has seen significant changes in the past year, with a notable decline in the number of branches and ATMs. PNC led the closures, reducing its network by 25 branches, while US Bank trimmed 21. BOFA saw a modest decrease of three branches. The overall number of bank branches nationwide has fallen by 155 in the past year and by 1,564 over five years.

The reduction in ATMs has been substantial, with 333 disappearing in the past year alone. Since the end of the 2020 financial year, nearly 5,000 ATMs have been removed across Australia. Despite these closures, the big four banks have pledged to keep regional branches open until at least mid-2027, following an agreement with the federal government. However, the closure rate in regional and remote areas has eased, with only 29 branches closed in the past financial year. Western Australia has seen the highest rate of bank branch closures, losing 41 branches over the past five years.

The reduction in bank branches and ATMs reflects the ongoing shift towards digital banking. While the big four banks have committed to maintaining regional presence, the long-term impact of these closures on accessibility and community banking services remains to be seen.