Westpac axes 200 teller jobs in digital overhaul

Westpac is cutting 200 teller jobs across its branches as it pushes customers to using digital services.

The bank says it will move the teller positions to home and business lending, where Westpac plans to take on 200 bankers.

The job cuts were driven by increasing numbers of Westpac customers using its app, website and ATMs, the bank said.

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"This year we've invested in our digital-first strategy to support our customers' changing needs and our digital citizens focus," Westpac's general manager of retail banking, Damien MacRae, said in an email to staff.

The plan will be supported by a $200 million investment over the next three years in ATMs and branches.

Staff will be trained to help customers use the app for advanced tasks as it becomes upgraded.

A Westpac spokesperson said the bank needed to alter the make-up of its workforce to reflect its investment goals.

"While we continue to invest in extra bankers, other areas may need fewer resources," they said.

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"We try to keep as many employees in the Westpac Group as we can, through retraining and redeployment."

The Finance Sector Union said the loss of the 200 teller jobs will remove critical services for customers.

The digital drive meant staff were being encouraged to make their own jobs redundant by reducing the need for face-to-face banking.

"Communities still rely on face-to-face banking and workers should not be sacrificed for cost-cutting dressed up as innovation," said FSU national secretary Julia Angrisano.

The announcement comes amid reports Westpac is carrying out a major restructure that will see up to 1500 jobs go.

Earlier this month, ANZ announced it was cutting 3500 full-time roles and 1000 contractor jobs, while NAB shed 410 jobs and moved 127 more overseas.

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