“We are reacting to the major changes in the banking sector and are adapting our bank branch structure as of April 1 by merging five smaller bank branches with the surrounding branches,” explains the managing director of the Raiffeisenbank Region Schärding, Matthias Breidt, at a press conference. The branches in the communities of Suben, Wernstein, Riedau, St. Willibald and Vichtenstein are affected by the closures.
“Around 80 percent of our customers already use our online offer to process their banking transactions, the majority of payments are made digitally by card. Cash transactions at the counter in our bank branches have almost halved in the last five years,” says Breidt. At the same time, the need for personal advice has increased. “The merger has the advantage for our customers that not only one person is available in the branch, as was often the case with the smaller ones, but a competent team.”
Dense branch network continues
The managing director emphasizes that the Raiffeisenbank Region Schärding will continue to be a powerful financial local supplier. “In the future, one of our 17 bank branches with the well-known customer advisors will also be available within a few kilometers. Raiffeisen is by far the banking group with the densest branch network in the Schärding district,” says Breidt. The restructuring will also not lead to any downsizing. “On the contrary. We are currently looking for new committed and qualified employees,” says the manager.
Together with those responsible on site, efforts are being made to find good solutions for the future use of the business premises in the five affected communities. “We have already held talks with the respective mayors in this regard. In the municipalities of Suben and Riedau, where the premises or building are in our possession, there are already ideas for future use. Our aim is very clear that there will be no vacancies under any circumstances caused by the branch closures in the local centres,” says Managing Director Karin Wallerstorfer-Rögl.
Source: Nachrichten
