Citizens protest local branch closing
A group of Winnipeggers want the federal government to draft legislation that would prevent large banks from closing branches without public consultation. About 15 people marked the closing yesterday of the CIBC branch at the corner of Logan Avenue and Keewatin Street with a protest calling for changes to the Bank Act. "After using this bank all my life it's a great disappointment," said Les Slingsby, who's in his 80s. "It's inconvenient. They're putting profits ahead of the community that's supported them for many years." The Weston branch was the last of four to close and be replaced with a new super bank that opened May 25 at Ellice Avenue and Empress Street. "We have urged them to give the new branch a try," bank spokesman Rob McLeod said from Toronto, noting CIBC will provide a shuttle bus twice a month between the old branches and the new location. Maeghan Dewar, 20, fears some customers will now resort to fringe banking services that charge high user fees. "They don't benefit the people in the community," she said. "You begin to question the bank's purpose if they're not going to be there for all of the people." Winnipeg Centre MP Pat Martin, who helped organize the protest, said large banks are profitable enough to keep smaller branches open. "The neighbourhood bank has gone the way of the dodo bird," he said.
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