Waimate's ANZ bank could be the next in a string of small-town bank closures.
Waimate Mayor Craig Rowley said he was "irate" about the proposal and was worried the town’s other banks would be next.
The proposed November 18 closure was "another shot at small local communities who are not considered by a large corporate entity", he said.
"We have the BNZ, here in Waimate, and we do have Kiwibank ... How long before these guys look at their services in Waimate? We’ve seen Westpac withdraw services from a number of rural towns and now we’re seeing ANZ withdrawing services ... How long before we see the likes of BNZ and Kiwibank also looking at pulling out of Waimate?
"It is a worrying trend."
ANZ has also proposed closing its Milton branch by November.
And last week Westpac confirmed 19 branches would close, including those in Ranfurly, Northeast Valley in Dunedin, and Te Anau.
A spokesman for ANZ confirmed three staff could be affected by the proposed Waimate branch closure.
He said the the number of customers using the branch had been "declining for some time" and it was "no longer viable to keep the branch open".
He said if the proposed closure went ahead ANZ would install a "smart ATM" in Waimate and staff would be offered roles elsewhere.
Mr Rowley said all the council’s banking was done through the ANZ and he would ask council chief executive Bede Carran to look at switching banks.
