News the Stratford branch of the BNZ bank is set to close next year has not been welcomed by the district's mayor or residents.
Stratford District mayor Neil Volzke says no matter what spin the bank management might put on it, the simple fact is that Stratford loses a service.
"It is extremely disappointing to learn of the planned BNZ closures across the country. While the BNZ justifies its decision by quoting all sorts of reasons supported by carefully crafted media releases, in reality, it is simply a withdrawal of service from those communities."
The announcement last week that the Stratford branch is one of 38 BNZ bank branches across New Zealand to be closed over the next seven months comes at a bad time, he says.
"These closures will result in further job losses in our community at a time when this is most hurtful. Meanwhile banks continue to make huge profits without showing much in the way of social responsibility."