Australians are closely attached to their local banks and no more so than in regional areas where where a well-placed and staffed branch makes all the difference.
"Well, it's just everything to keep a bank open in a regional centre," third generation farmer David Tudgey said, as he surveyed his impressive wheat field in Breeza, central NSW.
Like many people, Mr Tudgey does his fair share of banking online, but the other day was paid by cheque.
"You know, you've got to be able to go to your local centre and be able to be face-to-face with someone."
The nation's biggest network of bricks and mortar banks on Thursday gave regional Australians a guarantee there would be no branch closures for at least the next four years.
The commitment by Commonwealth Bank of Australia applies to 281 branches, stretching from the east to Port Hedland in Western Australia.
While good news for customers, it also gives certainty to the 3000 Commonwealth workers in the regions.
"Regional communities are central to the Australian economy and our way of life," chief executive Matt Comyn said.
"We have been part of these communities for generations, and today we are providing certainty that every one of our regional branches will remain open into the next decade."
The bank was one of the first major institutions to make a commitment to regional branch services in February 2023, during a Senate inquiry into rural closures and services.
That moratorium has been extended until December 2030.
Asked what would happen after that, retail banking services head Angus Sullivan said the second promise was a good indicator of the bank's "substantial" allegiance to rural Australians.
The 281 branches will continue to accept cash deposits and withdrawals and support everyday banking and business banking.
Gunnedah local Richard Gallen's family has been a customer of Commonwealth's town branch for more than 80 years.
"It's weird," the principal of LJ Hooker told AAP.
"They become very loyal, you know, country people.
"It's very rare that you go and change, if they're doing the right job."
The bank's Gunnedah branch, in central NSW, has been open since 1931, but what really matters is the role its played in peoples' lives across 95 years.
"Generations of families have walked through those doors, opened accounts, purchased homes, purchased businesses," branch manager Jason Woolley said.
The branch recently completed one of its biggest loans - $1.7 million for a house.
Commonwealth is also spending $140 million upgrading all of its branches and refreshing layouts and technology with the goal of cutting waiting times.
Mr Tudgey reckons he's probably got a better relationship with his local bank manager than his city counterparts, especially since they all go to the same events and their children go to the same schools.
"If you know the person, it helps a lot," the farmer, who later found out he could have dealt with that cheque in his banking app, told AAP.
"But it was nice to go in and, you know, be able to present the cheque to someone and get paid," he said.
So what if someone tried to close the bank?
"There would be uproar - revolution."
* AAP travelled to Gunnedah with the support of Commonwealth Bank.
