No Saturday opening here for Westpac

Westpac banks on the Peninsula have made a decision not to open on Saturdays even though the newly-opened Gosford branch will be open at the weekend.

Westpac media relations manager Ms Julia Quinn said: "We have now established weekend trading for 28 NSW branches."

"The decision (to apply for weekend trading) is based on customer demand and whether a given branch is situated in a busy shopping area," she said.

Westpac's Woy Woy and Umina branches were felt not to meet these criteria.

Nevertheless, whether a given branch ought to be earmarked for weekend trading application is assessed on an on-going basis, Ms Quinn said.

The NSW Minister for Commerce and Minister for the Central Coast, Mr John Della Bosca, officially opened Westpac's Gosford branch on Saturday, May 10 - the first time the branch has been allowed to trade on a Saturday.

The Minister said that Westpac's Tuggerah branch also opened on this date.

"It will be particularly useful for Central Coast residents who commute, leaving the region early and arriving home late," Mr Della Bosca said.

Legislation allowing banks to apply for approval to trade on Saturdays and Sundays was passed by the NSW Parliament late last year.

The new Department of Commerce approved Westpac's application to trade on Saturdays last month.

Mr Della Bosca said the decision to approve weekend trading was made on the basis of improved customer service and safeguards for bank employees.

Con Orfanos, May 14