SACP to protest FNB branch closures

The SA Communist Party (SACP) will march against First National Bank (FNB)'s decision to close 34 of its branches in the Free State and Northern Cape.

In a statement the party's Moses Kotane branch in the Free State said it would hold a peaceful protest march in Dealesville against "the profit-motivated decision by FNB" to close the branches.

"This move by FNB would bring banking service delivery to a complete halt in these poor communities." the SACP said.

The march will take place on April 28.

"All those who would be affected are being mobilised to come out in their numbers against bringing banking service delivery to a virtual halt in the affected areas."

The SACP said the planned march had already received a positive response from farmers, business owners, employees and employers.

"We are expecting a turnout of about 750 participants at the march."

In March, FNB announced the closure of the branches after a sustainability review.

"In earlier years, FNB was able to operate excessively large numbers of branches and agencies in very sparsely populated areas by downgrading branches to agencies and then further limiting the number of operating days; often down to one or two days a week," Sieg Maier, FNB provincial executive, central region, said.

"We are taking every possible step to ensure that should job losses occur, these will be kept to an absolute minimum," he said.