NAB shuts 19 bank branches over bushfire threat

19 NAB branches have been shut today due to the bushfires that continue to ravage Australia's east coast. Left: Cars drive down a freeway as smoke shrouds the Australian capital of Canberra, Australia. Right: NAB, Canberra. (Source: AAP)

NAB has again shut the doors to some of its bank branches across NSW and the ACT as bushfires continue to ravage Australia’s east and south coast.

19 branches across the two eastern states will not be open today, including the NAB branch in the nation’s capital city of Canberra as well as in Bega, Nowra, Manuka and Batemans Bay.

“On Thursday 2 January 2020 some NAB branches will be closed in New South Wales and the ACT due to the ongoing bushfire threat in parts of the state,” the bank said in a statement.

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“Our main priority is the safety of our people and the community, which is why we have made this decision.”

The closures come after it closed its doors to some South Australian branches earlier this week for the same reason.

These are the 19 branches in NSW and ACT that won’t be open today:

• Batemans Bay

• Sussex Inlet

• Ulladulla

• Narooma

• Tumbarumba

• Cooma

• Manuka

• Moruya

• Belconnen Mall

• Bega

• Nowra

• Merimbula

• Dickson

• Yass

• Fyshwick

• Woden

• Tuggeranong

• Gungahlin

• Canberra City

Telephone banking remains open as an option at 13 22 65, as well as online banking through the website or app.

“We apologise for any inconvenience and thank the volunteers and emergency services for their ongoing work to keep the community safe,” said NAB.

Commuter chaos as Australians scramble to evacuate

NSW authorities have labelled the area between Batemans Bay to the Victorian border as a no-tourist zone, and holidaymakers, visitors and locals alike have been warned to leave.

The mass departures are causing commuter chaos, with cars lined up to leave the NSW south coast and motorists are desperate to access petrol.

Meanwhile, there are grave concerns for 17 Victorians that have been unaccounted for after the deadly East Gippsland bushfires gripped the southern state.

3,000 to 4000 residents of a small coastal community in Victoria’s east, Mallacoota, face an anxious wait to be evacuated and the navy was called in to assist in delivering in necessary supplies such as food, water and fuel.

The number of NSW homes lost since New Year’s Eve is at 382.

NSW has declared a state of emergency for tomorrow, while the ACT has declared a state of alert, which is one stage before emergency.

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