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St.George/Westpac merger information for customers
Frequently asked questions
St.George and Westpac officially merged on Monday 1 December 2008.
What does this mean for you as a customer? It’s St.George service as usual:
- A stronger St.George with greater resources
- Access to over 2,700 ATMs around Australia
- Same commitment to service
- Same St.George brand
- Same award winning call centre service
- St.George branches will remain open
- Same commitment to our communities
Following are some questions and answers you may have about the merged Group and what this means for banking with St.George
- Will St.George stay the same?
- As a customer, how will the merger benefit me?
- Will the quality of service St.George provides be affected?
- I moved my accounts from Westpac to St.George, won’t this mean I will be banking with Westpac again?
- Will there be branch and ATM closures after the merger?
- Can I do my banking at a Westpac branch?
- Will our hours of operation change? Will we still have Saturday trading in our branches?
- If I use a Westpac ATM, will I be charged additional fees?
- Where can I find out the locations of Westpac ATMs?
- Can I deposit funds to my St.George account via a Westpac ATM?
- Will St.George ATMs remain in BP service stations?
- Can I call the Westpac call centre about my St.George accounts?
- Will my St.George account now change to a Westpac account?
- Will my rates or fees change?
- Do I need to move my existing accounts or future business to Westpac?
- Will the merger make it more difficult to take out a St.George loan?
- Will I be able to consolidate my banking relationships that I currently have with both Westpac and St.George into just one of them?
- I have accounts with Westpac as well as St.George. Will St.George have access to my Westpac account (and vice versa)?
- Who can I talk to about my small business questions?
- Will I continue to have the same relationship manager looking after my account?
- Will your credit policy change due to the merger?
- Will St.George match Westpac business product pricing?
- Will existing St.George Terms & Conditions be maintained for the duration of a customer’s facility post merger?
- Will St.George continue to pursue a strong interest in the existing targeted industry verticals (property, manufacturing & wholesaling, health services, leisure & hospitality and professionals)?
- Will St.George continue to pursue a strong interest in Automotive Dealer finance?
- I currently have access to a Treasury specialist for my requirements, will this continue?
- What will happen to St.George’s sponsorships (St.George Foundation, St.George Dragons etc)
Will St.George stay the same?
Your St.George experience and brand will remain the same. St.George will continue to have the same commitment to service and personal attention you’ve come to expect from us. The St.George business centres, branch and ATM networks will be retained and you’ll still have access to our call centre, enabling you to continue to do your day-to-day banking just as you have come to expect.
You will be part of an organisation that offers its customers even greater financial strength and resources. A great added benefit for you is that from 1 December, you’ll be able to use Westpac ATMs within Australia for transactions and balance enquiries and it won’t cost you any more than using a St.George ATM – giving you access to more than 2,700 ATMs across Australia.
As a customer, how will the merger benefit me?
You will benefit from an expanded ATM network from 1 December, and in the future, an enhanced range of products.
The St.George brands (including BankSA and Asgard) will be retained. There will be no reduction in branch or ATM numbers as a result of the merger. In fact, from 1 December 2008 St.George customers can use Westpac ATMs anywhere within Australia for transactions and balance enquiries. It won’t cost any more than using a St.George or BankSA ATM, giving you access to over 2,700 ATMs across Australia.
Will the quality of service St.George provides be affected?
Your St.George experience will remain the same. St.George will continue to have the same commitment to service and personal attention you’ve come to expect from us. You can continue to do business with St.George in the same way you always have.
I moved my accounts from Westpac to St.George, won’t this mean I will be banking with Westpac again?
No. Your accounts remain with St.George and our unique identity, brand and approach to operating the business will be retained. In addition, the St.George branch and ATM networks will be retained and you’ll still have access to our call centre, enabling you to continue to do your day-to-day banking just as you have come to expect.
Will there be branch and ATM closures after the merger?
There will be no reduction in St.George branch or ATM numbers as a result of the merger.
Can I do my banking at a Westpac branch?
No. You will not be able to do your St.George banking at a Westpac branch. St.George and Westpac branches will be operating separately.
Will our hours of operation change? Will we still have Saturday trading in our branches?
Our hours of operation will not change due to the merger however over time, changes may be made as in any normal business environment.
If I use a Westpac ATM, will I be charged additional fees?
No. From 1 December St.George customers will be able to use Westpac's ATMs within Australia for withdrawals and balance enquiries, however using a Westpac ATM won’t cost you any more than using a St.George ATM. This will give you access to more than 2,700 ATMs across Australia.
Each withdrawal or balance enquiry made at a Westpac ATM in Australia will be counted towards your monthly fee-free transaction allowance. If your monthly fee-free transaction allowance limit has been exceeded or if no such transaction allowance applies to your account, then the normal St.George ATM fee will apply to that transaction. Existing fees and charges will apply if you make a withdrawal or balance enquiry at a Westpac ATM overseas.
Where can I find out the locations of Westpac ATM's
From 1 December, the locations of Westpac ATMs will be included on the St.George ATM Locator. We will also make them available via our SMS ATM locator service. As soon as this service is available we will let you know.
Can I deposit funds to my St.George account via a Westpac ATM?
No, while you can use a Westpac ATM to make withdrawals and balance enquiries, you will not be able to make deposits to your St.George account via a Westpac ATM. If you wish to make a cash or cheque deposit to your St.George account you will need to use either a St.George ATM (that accepts deposits) or a St.George branch.
Will St.George ATMs remain in BP service stations?
St.George branded ATMs will continue to be available in selected BP service stations around Australia. St.George is committed to maintaining and improving the service we provide, this means making sure you can access your money when you need to.
Can I call the Westpac call centre about my St.George accounts?
No, to make an enquriy about your account please continue to call the St.George Customer Contact Centre on 13 33 30, 8am – 9pm, 7 days a week. Visit our Contact Us page for page for a complete list of current contact details.
Can I use Westpac’s Internet and Phone Banking services to access my St.George accounts?
No, you will not be able to access your St.George accounts through Westpac Internet and Phone Banking.
Have your contact numbers or email addresses changed?
No, you can still use the same phone numbers or email addresses you have always used. For further details visit our Contact Us page.
Will my St.George account now change to a Westpac account?
Your St.George accounts will remain the same and you can continue to operate it in the same way you always have.
Will my rates or fees change?
From 1 December 2008 St.George customers will be able to use Westpac's ATMs throughout Australia for withdrawals and balance enquiries, the use of which will not cost you any more than using a St.George ATM. Aside from this change, at this stage, no other interest rates and fees will change as a result of the merger.
Please refer to 'If I use a Westpac ATM, will I be charged additional fees' for more information.
Do I need to move my existing accounts or future business to Westpac?
You can continue to do business with St.George just as you always have.
Will the merger make it more difficult to take out a St.George loan?
No. The merger will have no impact on your ability to obtain a loan.
Will I be able to consolidate my banking relationships that I currently have with both Westpac and St.George into just one of them?
There is no need for you to combine your accounts as a result of the merger, and it will not be possible for you to operate your St George accounts through Westpac (other than via ATM). You may, of course, consolidate your banking with one of Westpac or St George if that suits your needs.
I have accounts with Westpac as well as St.George. Will St.George have access to my Westpac account (and vice versa)?
St.George and Westpac Retail and Business Banking will be operated separately from each other, so, St.George customer facing and sales staff will not have access to Westpac systems and information and vice versa.
Who can I talk to about my small business questions?
If you need to talk to someone about your small business product needs, please call our team of dedicated business banking specialists on 133 800 8am - 6pm, Monday to Friday.
Will I continue to have the same relationship manager looking after my account?
At this stage, there will be no changes as a result of the merger. However if your relationship manager changes in the future, we will let you know.
Will your credit policy change due to the merger?
It will be business as usual. At this stage there will be no change to existing credit policies as a result of the merger.
Will St.George match Westpac business product pricing?
It will be business as usual. At this stage, there will be no changes to our pricing discretions and procedures as a result of the merger.
Will existing St.George Terms & Conditions be maintained for the duration of a customer’s facility post merger?
The terms and conditions of customer facilities will not be amended as a result of the merger. Any changes to terms and conditions in the future may occur as part of normal business practice and will be explained to you when that occurs, as is the case today.
Will St.George continue to pursue a strong interest in the existing targeted industry verticals (property, manufacturing & wholesaling, health services, leisure & hospitality and professionals)?
Yes. St.George will continue to have a strong presence in the targeted industries. You will continue to receive the same enthusiasm and industry understanding that you have come to expect from us.
Will St.George continue to pursue a strong interest in Automotive Dealer finance?
Yes. St.George will continue to have a strong presence in Automotive Dealer Finance. You will continue to receive the same enthusiasm and industry understanding that you have come to expect from us.
I currently have access to a Treasury specialist for my requirements, will this continue?
Yes. You will continue to have access to treasury specialists.
What will happen to St.George’s sponsorships (St.George Foundation, St.George Dragons etc)
Our commitment to our communities remains absolute. St.George’s commitment extends to current sponsorships and there will not be any changes as a result of the merger. However, our sponsorships are always subject to review as in any normal business environment.
