‘Absolute disbelief’ at removal of ATM

North End residents and business owners are in shock following the removal of a Westpac ATM in the Oamaru suburb.

Brian Fraser, owner of the North Oamaru Four Square store, was one of many in the area surprised  by the recent removal of the machine.

"Gobsmacked" was the first feeling that sprang to mind as he witnessed the workers removing it, he said.

"I was rather surprised when I saw the workers there and that was what they were doing."

Over the years, the machine had provided a handy banking service to the elderly members of the community, he said.

"It’s a kick in the teeth to everyone who was relying on it."

No notice was given to people or other businesses in the area that it was to be removed.

It would be nice to see another bank install a new machine to replace the old one, Mr Fraser said.

The closest ATM was inside the Northside New World supermarket on Thames Highway. However, that machine was only available during the store’s business hours.

Following the removal, many people were still walking to where the machine used to be, Mr Fraser said.

"The look on their faces when they realised it wasn’t there was absolute disbelief."

Tim Arthur, of Arthur’s Antiques, was also disappointed about the removal of the  ATM.

Mr Arthur believed the decision to remove the machine was made by  someone who "didn’t care" about people in North Otago.

"They probably think they don’t have to tell us," he said.

It was common to see the machine busy  all hours of the day and night.Both shop owners felt  elderly community members would suffer because they would now have to travel further to withdraw money.

Westpac media relations manager Will Hine acknowledged the machine had been removed.

Mr Hine said Westpac removed its machines for a number of reasons, including the age of the machine, lease considerations, security issues, and declining use as more customers were using online and mobile banking instead.

- Tyson Young