It's been confirmed the Cherrywood branch of the Westpac Bank is among 19 mainly rural branches that will be closing down in early November.

SunLive reported in August on the proposed closures, which would see 72 jobs lost across the country.

Westpac's Cherrywood branch will be closing in November. Photo: Google Maps.

The closure means that customers who used the Cherrywood branch will likely have to make a trip into the CBD to do their banking, or else do more banking online.

The move is set to affect many elderly residents, many of whom may not have access to a computer, or the confidence to do their banking via the internet.

Age Concern Tauranga general manager Tanya Smith recognises these issues, but says unfortunately this seems to be the direction banking is heading in.

'We're in the 21st century, and it's going to be hard for people not doing internet banking,” says Tanya.

'But as Westpac has said, not a lot of people are using their [face-to-face] services anymore.”

The solution, says Tanya, comes from making internet banking more accessible and understandable for those not currently using it.

'I'd love to see, and I hope, with any bank looking at closing branches, that they're going to help provide some education to support the older members in our community. Giving their customers confidence is important, as there is a lot of scamming and scaremongering out there.”

The closure of Westpac Cherrywood follows a similar announcement by ANZ last month to close their Greerton branch.

A Westpac spokeswoman sasy customers were rapidly changing the way they bank and expect 24/7 access to their banking.

The closures would happen in Kamo, Raglan, Otorohanga, Putaruru, Te Aroha, Cherrywood (Tauranga), Whangamata, Broadway Ave (Palmerston North), Wainuiomata, Waikanae, Carterton, Takaka, Stoke, Fendalton Mall and Bishopdale (both Christchurch), Gardens (Dunedin), Fairlie, Ranfurly and Te Anau, in early November, reports Stuff.