The branch, described as a “bragency”, is housed in the Harris Scarfe store and is closing because of a national restructure of the bank, according to St George.

The news has distressed older residents, some of whom continue to use passbooks.

Turlinjah resident Deidre Sinclair, 80, and her wheelchair-bound son Todd, 55, bank regularly at the branch, but received a nasty surprise on Wednesday.

“I complimented the staff on their new blouses, and they told me they had got the new uniform that morning – and then found out at 11am the branch was closing and they were losing their jobs,” Mrs Sinclair said.

“The left hand didn’t know what the right hand was doing.

“The lady was nearly in tears because she and the other staff will lose their jobs.

“I was so cranky.”

The Bay Post/Moruya Examiner understands that a full-time employee and a permanent part-time employee will be made redundant. 

This month, at least 14 jobs were lost in a federal government shake-up of employment services.

Another 50 jobs are under threat after Southern NSW Medicare Local in Moruya lost its bid to become a national primary health network.

Mrs Sinclair, who uses a bank book rather than an ATM, must either upgrade to a key card and pin, change banks, or travel.

“I will now have to go to Bega or Batemans Bay, and change my Centrelink details,” she said.

St George said customers could continue to operate their savings and cheque accounts at Moruya Post Office, but cards would replace bank books.

Mrs Sinclair has been a customer at the Moruya branch for 19 years, and joined St George 20 years before that.

“I joined because they were a building society, and they said they would not amalgamate or close

little branches in the country,” she said.

Tuross Head resident Kath Smith has called the impending closure “appalling.”

“I don’t know what we can do to stop it,” she said.

“We might start a petition.”

A St George spokeswoman said the bank was updating “its network in the new digital and regulatory environment”.

“The needs of our customers have evolved and solutions such as digital and mobile banking have radically changed the way our customers interact with us,” the spokeswoman said.

“St George continually evaluates the location of all our services to ensure we’re located in the right areas to best serve our customers.

“After careful consideration, the St George bragency in the Harris Scarf will close on Friday, June 12, and its operations merged with the larger St George branch in Batemans Bay.”

She said there were “a range of ways St George customers can still do their banking in Moruya.”

“St George customers can use the Bank@Post service at the Moruya Post Office to deposit cash and cheques, make cash withdrawals and balance inquiries, fee-free.”