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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Gabrielle Chan

Australia needs a new plan to keep rural banks open before they all get turned into cafes

Old bank turned into a cafe in the rural Town of Trentham in Victoria Australia
An old bank turned cafe in Trentham, Victoria. Everybody loves a cafe, but regional areas need bank branches as well. Photograph: Chris Putnam/Alamy

Drive into any country town and you will see the remnants of old bank buildings. They have often been turned into smart cafes, serving flat whites and specialty teas to locals and passersby alike.

It is quite a fitting use. When it comes to rural banks – and rural politics generally – there is a lot of tea and sympathy but not much else.

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