The bank closed its Bledisloe St branch last Friday after it was deemed to be below earthquake safety standards.
Although a meeting of business groups from Kurow and Omarama to discuss the issue was well-supported yesterday, Waitaki Community Trust treasurer Donna Coleman-Smith said it was clear another bank would not open a branch in Kurow.
However, a "few ideas" had been bandied about, which the community would investigate, she said.
Ahuriri Community Board member Callum Reid said there was little that could be done to encourage banks to open a branch in town, but negotiations were under way with banks to allow residents to draw out cash on their credit cards at independent ATMs.
"Hopefully, that will come to a successful conclusion. Just now, with those ATMs that are used at Caltex service station in Kurow and I think Four Square in Omarama, you can't draw money on your Visa card.
"Because we are in this remote location, maybe they can get around that and come up with a solution."
Mr Reid said there were security issues surrounding the transport of cash to Oamaru.
Although the National Bank had installed a drop-box for deposits, Mr Reid said that was only emptied once a week and did not help with the need for cash.
Although a local security company had said it would investigate the costs of providing a service when required, until that was confirmed all that could be done was to ensure when one person made a trip to Oamaru they also conducted banking for others, he said.
He said residents had tried to convince several banks and credit unions to open branch facilities, but none had been interested.
"When you get three people coming through the door a day it's just not profitable to be there."
