Customer faces unexpected cash deposit issue: 'I won't be dealing with them after this'

In an age where digital transactions are becoming the norm, it's easy to forget the value of good old-fashioned cash.

However, for one ANZ customer, a recent attempt to deposit a substantial amount of cash turned into a bewildering banking puzzle that left him questioning his loyalty to the major bank.


The incident unfolded at an ANZ branch in Hervey Bay, where the customer, preferring to stay anonymous, sought to deposit $2,400 in cash.

To his astonishment, the teller informed him that there was a $2,500 minimum for over-the-counter cash deposits and that he should have given notice before coming in.


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An ANZ customer was allegedly denied a $2,400 cash deposit due to a claimed minimum limit, which ANZ later refuted. Credit: Facebook


This unexpected hurdle was not just inconvenient; it was downright perplexing.

The customer's frustration only grew when he was directed to use an ANZ ATM, which, as luck would have it, was out of order.

Returning to the teller with the hope of resolving the issue, he was met with the same refusal and the unhelpful suggestion to 'come back another day and see if the machine is fixed.'


This experience, which the customer described as 'coming out of left field,' has left a sour taste in his mouth, prompting him to consider taking his banking elsewhere.

'I have been with ANZ for years...I won't be dealing with them after this,' he said, calling on the bank to 'do better, consider your customers and do the right thing.'

The story has struck a chord with other Australians, sparking a debate about the role of human tellers in the era of ATMs and online banking.

While some customers appreciate the convenience of ATMs, others miss the personal touch of face-to-face transactions and lament the reduced number of available machines.

Indeed, the Australian Banking Association's statistics show a strong preference for ATMs, with these machines handling 91 per cent of cash transactions in the 2023 financial year.

ANZ has raised the daily cash withdrawal limit to $2,500 and set a $10,000 limit for ATM deposits.


However, the number of ATMs has been declining, with ANZ closing 1,447 machines over the past five years—a 63 per cent decrease.

The reduction in banking infrastructure isn't limited to ATMs; branches are also closing alarmingly.

Over the last financial year, 230 branches were shuttered, and the total number dropped by 32 per cent compared to five years ago.

Despite this, the Big Four banks have agreed to halt regional branch closures until 31 July 2027, acknowledging the importance of access to banking services for all Australians.

The reliance on digital banking raises concerns for those who still prefer or rely on cash, such as older Australians and those on lower incomes.

The Reserve Bank of Australia notes that around 1.5 million adults use cash as their primary payment method.


In response to these concerns, the CEOs of the Big Four banks have assured customers that cash is 'here to stay.'

This incident at ANZ reminds us that while we embrace the convenience of digital banking, we must not overlook the needs of those who depend on traditional banking services.

It's a delicate balance that banks must strike to ensure they cater to all customers, regardless of their preferred transaction methods.

In other news, since 2019, over half of Australia’s ATMs and a third of bank branches have closed, affecting cash users and older Australians.

While closures in major cities have slowed, 230 branches still shut down in the 2024 financial year, hitting regional and rural areas the hardest. You can read more about it here.
Key Takeaways
  • An ANZ customer was allegedly told he could not deposit $2,400 cash at a branch due to a supposed minimum deposit limit that ANZ later refuted.
  • The customer, attempting to deposit the money at his local Hervey Bay branch, experienced an ATM outage and was subsequently turned away by the teller.
  • The incident has sparked discussions about the banking industry's push towards ATM usage and the reduced availability of in-person branch services.
  • Despite the reduction in ATMs and branches, the Big Four banks, including ANZ, have committed to maintaining cash services, with the Commonwealth Bank CEO affirming that physical cash is 'here to stay'.
Have you faced similar banking challenges or have thoughts on the evolving landscape of banking services? Share your stories and opinions with us, and let's discuss the future of banking for seniors and all Australians.
 

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I’m not surprised that the ANZ bank would do this. My Mother’s estate took 9 months to settle, and much of it, was caused by holdups with the ANZ bank. An investigation was conducted, into the big 4 banks. Guys who came out worse? Correct. ANZ. I would never consider banking with them, after my Mother’s dealings with them either. Get out now! Gezabel.
ANZ are absolutely shocking!! My partner had huge issues trying to settle a mortgage. We both pulled the pin on them!
 
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That doesn't sound right I deposited over the counter at ANZ Launceston $ 380
 
Apologies for the length of this response.

This is ridiculous.
You can only draw out $1000 a day from an ATM. If you need $2400 to pay for something that can't be paid via POS, you must draw out $1000 on day one, $1000 on day two, and $400 on day three.

Security issues include carrying money from the ATM to the car and having that much money in the house.

Interest rates for savings, term deposits, etc., have not increased, but the lack of service has decreased.

With the reduction in staff and services, where are the cost-savings going? From my perspective, you hear how much profit they have made annually. This is due to the reduction in staff and services. How about some of those profits being passed down to customers?

We are giving the executives who are already being paid too much with our money a pay increase.

It will be the same regardless of which bank you go to.

It's not only the banks; Coles and Woolworths have put in self-service checkouts, but prices have not been reduced, and jobs have been lost.

Due to the environment, they have stopped supplying plastic bags for your shopping. We now need to pay for bags (unless you take your own). Where are the savings going? They save on not supplying bags and profit from us having to pay for bags.

End of rant.
I have withdrawn cash over the counter at ANZ
 
Apologies for the length of this response.

This is ridiculous.
You can only draw out $1000 a day from an ATM. If you need $2400 to pay for something that can't be paid via POS, you must draw out $1000 on day one, $1000 on day two, and $400 on day three.

Security issues include carrying money from the ATM to the car and having that much money in the house.

Interest rates for savings, term deposits, etc., have not increased, but the lack of service has decreased.

With the reduction in staff and services, where are the cost-savings going? From my perspective, you hear how much profit they have made annually. This is due to the reduction in staff and services. How about some of those profits being passed down to customers?

We are giving the executives who are already being paid too much with our money a pay increase.

It will be the same regardless of which bank you go to.

It's not only the banks; Coles and Woolworths have put in self-service checkouts, but prices have not been reduced, and jobs have been lost.

Due to the environment, they have stopped supplying plastic bags for your shopping. We now need to pay for bags (unless you take your own). Where are the savings going? They save on not supplying bags and profit from us having to pay for bags.

End of rant.
No you are justified.I can't believe members insist the mistake is the members and can't possibly be for the non existent,poor staff with not training or care that has been evident for at the very least 5-8 years.
End my rant
 
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On the contrary don’t know why that happened I deposited $3000 cash for payment on a cruise, no problem at my ANZ bank in Victoria. Maybe individual banks do as they please.
 
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This doesn't seem right. I think there is a mistake in this article. Maybe the customer ment to say withdrawal.

I have never known a bank to refuse any deposits.

I recently withdraw $12,000 from a commonwealth Bank teller and had no problem at all.
I just deposited $1800 again no problem
I had no trouble depositing over $12000 in cash with the Commonwealth Banka few years ago without announcing it beforehand.
 
On the contrary don’t know why that happened I deposited $3000 cash for payment on a cruise, no problem at my ANZ bank in Victoria. Maybe individual banks do as they please.
Yes they do.Finally someone that gets it.
 
I understand having to show your licence in the case of the card having been stolen but having to give notice for the cash is ridiculous.
What happens in my case when I don't have a licence, passport or an original birth certificate? I have a "Proof of Age" card.

Many institutions do not accept a "Proof of Age" card as a form of identification if they are over five years old. Optus, for one, refused my card as it was five and half years old, saying it had "expired".

News for Optus. "Proof of Age" cards do not have an expiry date, like licences or passports as verified by the card issuer IN WRITING! But they still didn't believe me!

Can anybody with a "Proof of Age" card show me the "expiry date"? You can't because it doesn't exist!
 
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$2500.00 minimum cash DEPOSIT??? Are you sure this is correct?
ANZ has raised the daily cash withdrawal limit to $2,500 and set a $10,000 limit for ATM deposits.
Apparently so, over the counter, where tellers are not allowed to use this Little Known thing we call commonsense.
 
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My suburb of Stafford has no bank and no post office. Lucky us though there is a Post Box. It's not about the customer any more, just about cost cutting. People who worked in most banks had to 'go' in the name of AI taking over. Not my world. Westpac has done this to us.
 
What happens in my case when I don't have a licence, passport or an original birth certificate? I have a "Proof of Age" card.

Many institutions do not accept a "Proof of Age" card as a form of identification if they are over five years old. Optus, for one, refused my card as it was five and half years old, saying it had "expired".

News for Optus. "Proof of Age" cards do not have an expiry date, like licences or passports as verified by the card issuer IN WRITING! But they still didn't believe me!

Can anybody with a "Proof of Age" card show me the "expiry date"? You can't because it doesn't exist!
Proof of Age reminds me of a funny but true banking story happening when employees worked for and with customers. Teller goes to his manager for help. His customer wants to open an account but he can't complete the application because of missing info. It was the Date of Death.
 
On the contrary don’t know why that happened I deposited $3000 cash for payment on a cruise, no problem at my ANZ bank in Victoria. Maybe individual banks do as they please.
Apparently so, over the counter, where tellers are not allowed to use this Little Known thing we call commonsense.
I agree regarding common-sense would it not been easier for the teller to deposit the money over the counter and advise the customer what the policy is, customer service not.

What about the elderly (yes us) who struggle to use a mobile phone let alone trying to withdraw money from an ATM when they have always dealt with a real person, who was polite and did their best to look after the customer, who pay their wages.
 
My thoughts are that this is about their distrust of cash and possible money laundering.
I was questioned about a deposit once. Was only a mere $350, but they interrogated me and demanded I tell them where it came from. It was a bleeding cheque. Dopes.
This was a few years ago when there was a big news break about Asian money laundering syndicates. I must have looked shady.
 
What happens in my case when I don't have a licence, passport or an original birth certificate? I have a "Proof of Age" card.

Many institutions do not accept a "Proof of Age" card as a form of identification if they are over five years old. Optus, for one, refused my card as it was five and half years old, saying it had "expired".

News for Optus. "Proof of Age" cards do not have an expiry date, like licences or passports as verified by the card issuer IN WRITING! But they still didn't believe me!

Can anybody with a "Proof of Age" card show me the "expiry date"? You can't because it doesn't exist!
Iv'e kept the letter I got with my Proof of Age card saying it doesn't expire, if I ever need it it's on me.
 
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