The announcements that another two Westpac branches, Neutral Bay and Mortdale, are set to close on April 21 is “a bitter pill to swallow”.

This following a stack of branch closures in the past six months, including Potts Point, Newtown, Lakemba, Engadine, Corrimal, Kingscliff and Five Dock.

Chris O’Keefe said this  was a “bitter pill to swallow ” given the profits Westpac has made in the past year – $5.6 billion,  up 4 per cent year on year.

“Now I just don’t buy the argument, that customers aren’t using branches, so they need to close them,” he said.

“Bank branches are a basic customer service.”

Julia Angisano, from Financial Sector Union, said the level of arrogance of the big four banks “blows your mind”.