Bruderheim Council looking at ways to stop ATB closure

While the impending closure of Bruderheim’s only bank, Alberta Treasury Branch, is moving ahead as planned, mayor Karl Hauch is not giving up on finding a way to keep the banking establishment open in Bruderheim.

During Bruderheim’s Nov. 17 town council meeting, Hauch suggested a motion be made for administration to write a letter to Alberta’s finance minister asking for assistance.

“We had inquired with the provincial finance minister to intervene (preventing the closure of ATB) and we didn’t hear anything from them. And I’m wondering if we could make a motion to write a letter asking for them to intervene?,” Hauch asked the council.

Since the announcement was made in late Sept., Hauch has been a vocal opponent of the move, citing harm to current and future residents as well as possibly hampering Bruderheim’s potential for growth.

“A bank is one of the key institutions people look to when they choose a community to live in,” said Hauch. “My fear is this may be more harmful than helpful to Bruderheim.”

In addition to all of council appearing to agree in having a letter sent to the finance minister, some councillors also commented on ATB’s operation strategy.

Councillor Wayne Olechow observed ATB branches operating within proximity to one another in other municipalities.

“I was just driving through two small municipalities that are minutes apart and they both have an ATB there. They’re literally four minutes apart. So, I’m just curious as to how they pick and choose,” he said.

After closing 10 branches across the province earlier this year, ATB cited frequency of in-branch transactions, number of customers and customer growth as reasons for the closures.

In their branch closure notice, ATB directed Bruderheim customers to begin looking to Lamont or Fort Saskatchewan branches for in-person transactions.

Meanwhile, Councillor George Campbell felt ATB’s scant hours of operation were a huge factor in their downfall.

“If you look at our pharmacy, when you see cars parked there, it’s mostly after four o’clock. What time is ATB open? It’s closed at four o’clock. I think that was one of the biggest downfalls of all with that bank. People want access, and they want it at their convenience and ATB has not been willing to follow that request,” he said.

While most of Hauch’s supporters on social media have agreed with his stance on keeping the bank open, some felt the move by ATB was warranted.

“Some of us seniors actually don’t give a hoot, as we’ve embraced modern technology and convenience, especially over wasting our valuable life in a lineup to perform the simplest of banking tasks,” said one follower. “The fact I haven’t stepped foot into a physical bank branch in (not lying) 15 years has been a Godsend, and just know I’m not young and likely bank harder than you ever will.”

Bruderheim town council unanimously agreed to direct administration to write and submit a letter to Alberta’s finance minister.

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Jana Semeniuk
Staff Reporter