Westpac bank closures

With 19 small towns around the country facing the prospect of losing their Westpac banks - sometimes their only bank - several will today hold protests against the proposals. The Australian-owned bank - which turned a 920 million dollar profit in the last financial year - is considering closing 19 branches across the country, many of them in rural areas. With Mayor of Central Otago District Tony Lepper and Matamata-Piako District Mayor Jan Barnes.