<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The number of ATMs operated by Australian banks has almost halved over the past five years, with hundreds dropping out of rotation in the last year alone.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>New data from the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) revealed that 333 bank-run ATMs were closed down in the 12 months to June, a loss of about 6 per cent.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The change over the last five years is even starker, with 4478 – or 47 per cent – of the machines shut down in the past half-decade.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/camping-found-after-nine-day-search/9c64827f-2e7a-49b6-9e96-3eee8735d93d"><strong><span>Missing camper tells of miracle rescue after nine-day ordeal</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In a further blow to Australians wanting to use cash and in-person banking services, 155 bank branches closed in 2024-25.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Bank branches are continuing to disappear as Australians and banks continue to go digital," Canstar data insights director Sally Tindall said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"While the rate at which bank branches are closing their doors is continuing to slow, it's little comfort to those whose local branch has shut up shop. </span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/atm-closures-australia-2024-25-apra-data/7a5617be-1c91-4825-9ff4-842a7e55e945" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"At the end of the day, 155 bank branch closures across the country is still significant."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>As with ATMs, the rate at which bank branches are shutting up shop slowed in the last 12 months –  the 155 lost in the past year represent just 10 per cent of the total closures over the last half-decade.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/missing-boy-gus-lamont-update-search-enters-expected-final-day/fb2b004e-07a7-4959-b142-6376f3bac316"><strong><span>Search for missing boy enters what is expected to be final day</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>There was also a slowdown in the proportion of branches in remote or very remote parts of the country shutting down, coming on the back of an agreement between the big four banks and federal government to keep their regional presences open until at least mid-2027.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The APRA data shows that in remote and very remote areas, the number of branch closures in the last financial year was five, compared to eight closures the year before," Tindall said. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"As banking goes increasingly digital, there's no doubt more customers are happy to tap, click, transfer and apply online instead of queueing at a branch. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The challenge for banks is making sure no one is left behind in this shift…</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Banks, government and regulators still need to work together to make sure innovation doesn't come at the expense of inclusion."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><strong><span>Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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