Following an outcry by residents and an appeal in the Courier, First National Bank has granted a three-month reprieve on it’s decision to close the Glencoe branch.
Initially, the decision was to shut-shop on August 16. The announcement was made by way of a notice pinned on the door of the bank.
However, businessmen and residents rallied and the issue was taken up by the Courier. Mayor Thulani Mahaye, himself a former Glencoe town councillor, also wrote a letter asking for the bank to stay open in the town.
Richard Nel, former Glencoe Mayor, said FNB opened in Dundee 16 years ago after ABSA closed their branch. “The arrangement was that the municipality would bank with FNB and we would encourage people to support the branch. Now that they want to close, this impacts negatively on the many elderly and poor people who make use of the facility – some coming from Wasbank. They simply will not be able to get to Dundee to do their banking.”
Dr Sandy Bedassi of the ABH Home said many Dundee businesses preferred to use the Glencoe FNB as ‘it is quieter and parking more accessible’.
Andrew Meli of Spar said bank officials had recently met with a group of concerned residents where the three-month reprieve was agreed upon.
“We were told that all banks will go electronic and soon there will be no tellers. However, in our area this process should be gradual.”
Dr Bedassi added that Glencoe is home to two old age homes and many school hostels who would suffer should the bank close. In another development, Capitec Bank is to install an ATM in the Spar Centre.