The news came around the same time as it was reported the bank intends to close five branches in regional South Western New South Wales.

“Branches will play an important role in banking for many years to come, but with customers changing how they are banking, we are proposing changes to NAB’s services in Riverina and the surrounding areas,” a spokesperson for NAB said.

“We continually monitor our branch network to ensure it aligns with how customers choose to bank with us.”

In 2015 Gloucester was affected by the Westpac Banking Corporation decision to close 147 rural in-store agencies, losing its Westpac in-store agency at Garner’s Home Hardware that was located on Church Street.

This was followed by the NAB reducing its opening hours, closing between 12.30pm to 1.30pm. 

The NAB branch in Wingham followed a similar pattern reducing its trading hours before completely closing its doors on December 5, 2017.

When asked why Gloucester’s trading hours were being reduced and how it would impact the staff, a spokesperson for NAB responded, “We continually monitor our branch network to ensure it aligns with how customers choose to bank with us.”

In regard to customers getting assistance outside of these hours, NAB said they will able to do their banking in person using Bank@Post services at the post office.

Gloucester Business Chamber took to social media after finding out about the change, posting on its Facebook page contact details of a NAB employee to contact about the matter.