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Letter: Caroline bank needs to open its doors

Alberta Treasury Branch was formed in 1938 to provide financial services to rural Albertans. Through the wars, the droughts, the economic downturns, booms and bust, ATB was there for Albertans.
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Alberta Treasury Branch was formed in 1938 to provide financial services to rural Albertans. Through the wars, the droughts, the economic downturns, booms and bust, ATB was there for Albertans.

None of the above were too tough for Albertans and ATB.

Through the COVID – 19 scenario we have experienced disappointment and frustration with ATB in Caroline. ATB should have been the first to keep its doors open, especially in rural Alberta, where in most communities they are the only financial institution. Most of the small businesses in small communities only have the option of one bank.

ATB was closed when COVID first began. Concerns were expressed and it eventually opened. We are now back in the same situation.

Banks were deemed an essential service. All the other businesses in small communities that were deemed essential stayed open and provided all their services while following covid guidelines.

Customers have been phoning the ATB complaint line and our Caroline & District Chamber of Commerce office.

These customers are being told to drive to outside communities like Rocky Mountain House or Sundre to bank. There are residents in our village that do not have the option of travelling or the knowledge of how to bank online.

If there is not a reliable bank in our community then people will not stay here.

Reg Dean, Caroline & District Chamber of Commerce