Customers angry: Commerzbank closes branch in Unterhaching
Created: 12/30/2021, 05:30 AM
From: Martin Becker
The Commerzbank branch on Hauptstrasse in Unterhaching is closed.
15 more in the greater Munich area are to follow in the coming year.
© Martin Becker
In December, Commerzbank closed its branch at Hauptstrasse 49 in Unterhaching.
“Without notice”, as customers complain angrily.
The bank speaks of a “strategic step”.
Unterhaching
- Commerzbank defends the branch closure as a "strategic step", as a spokeswoman explained when asked by Münchner Merkur.
Commerzbank looks after around 350,000 private customers in the greater Munich area with a network of 36 branches.
Of these, 15 were and will be closed until the end of 2022 - in the Munich district this has already happened in Oberschleißheim and Graefelfing, now also in Unterhaching, only two branches remain - in Ottobrunn and Grünwald.
According to Mario Peric, Head of the South Division at Commerzbank, the closings took place “according to clear and comprehensible criteria”.
These are "primarily customer demand, but also future population development".
In addition, at some locations, “it was not possible to pull past the regional banks”.
Written complaint
No reason for loyal customers like Gerd Tausch (80) from Unterhaching, who complained in writing about the branch closure.
"I protest strongly against this measure and the associated discrimination, especially against older people," writes the 80-year-old.
He couldn't do anything with the QR code on the information sheet on the door of the ex-branch: "I'm not a smartphone owner." to be".
Only 21 of 36 branches are to remain
But that is exactly what will not happen.
According to a press release, Commerzbank is reducing its network from 36 to 21 branches in the Munich area; Unterhaching customers are referred to the branch in Ottobrunn, Rosenheimer Landstrasse 87, a good four kilometers away.
And on expanding “personal advice via telephone, video, chat and e-mail”.
"Of course we are still there for our older customers," emphasized a Commerzbank spokeswoman.
"To this end, we have expanded our telephone advisory services so that a direct personal exchange with a consultant is ensured from the comfort of your own home."
Cash supply secured
And as far as online banking is concerned: "If a customer does not feel completely fit in it yet, he is warmly welcome to visit our branch in Ottobrunn in order to be informed there." The cash supply is also still assured.
"We have partnerships with retailers so that payments can easily be made at supermarket checkouts such as Rewe, Aldi, Lidl or in Shell petrol stations," says a Commerzbank spokeswoman.
"In addition, our customers can still use the Cash Group ATMs free of charge - for example in Unterhaching at HVB."
Town hall spokesman: "This is branch dying on a large scale"
In the town hall, the closure of the branch was registered with amazement. “This is a big dying out of branches,” says Simon Hötzl, press spokesman and economic advisor for the community. The reference to the branch in Ottobrunn is "not an adequate substitute for seniors who are no longer so mobile". Especially since the senior age group “is growing most dynamically in Unterhaching,” says Hötzl.
Only the Kreissparkasse, the VR-Bank and the Hypovereinsbank are present with branches in the municipality Unterhaching.
“Personal banking services, but also the option to pay in cash for business customers, are a locational advantage.
Commerzbank's withdrawal is hurting us very much. ”As far as business customers are concerned, the Commerzbank spokeswoman once again referred to the branch in Ottobrunn.
And: "We are currently working on further partnerships for the supply of cash to business customers."