Tavistock says goodbye to longtime Scotiabank branch

Staff members at the Tavistock Scotiabank branch display the amount donated to local non-profit organizations over the past six years. Pictured, from left, are Nichelle Horst, senior customer experience associate, Tina Wolff, customer experience associate, Vicki Eckhardt, senior financial advisor, Michele Frock, branch manager, and Margaret Herlick, customer experience lead. Gary West photo

By Gary West

Last Friday marked the end of an era in Tavistock as the community said goodbye to the local Scotiabank branch after decades of service.

Residents stopping by the branch on its final day shared memories of what many described as one of the friendliest and most community-minded banking teams in the area.

Over the years, staff at the Tavistock branch supported countless local organizations and fundraising efforts including the Children’s Aid Angel Tree program, Tavistock Assistance Program (TAP), Tavistock minor ball, the Tavistock Skating Club, Tavistock Tornadoes soccer, the Tavistock Public School playground project, Tavistock Community Health Inc. (TCHI), the Canadian Transplant Association, the Hickson Trail, school lunch programs, Muscular Dystrophy Canada, the Tavistock Opti-Mrs silent auction, Bowl for Kids, the Heart and Stroke Foundation, the Tavistock Agricultural Society and the United Way.

East Zorra-Tavistock Mayor Phil Schaefer, who managed the Tavistock branch for 21 years, reflected on the closure and the relationships built over the years.

“I was blessed to have a great staff and a very loyal customer base,” Schaefer said. “For the past 36 years since its opening, the branch grew its book of business at an above-average pace.”

Schaefer said the loss of one of Tavistock’s two banks is disappointing for both residents and local farm operators who relied on the branch.

He noted banking habits have changed significantly over the years, with most transactions now taking place outside traditional branch locations.

“Eight out of 10 bank transactions are completed outside the branch network,” Schaefer said. “Consequently, banks are shrinking those networks, and small towns like Tavistock are the first to feel the pain.”

Schaefer added he feels especially sorry for staff members losing their jobs and for longtime customers who may now face challenges accessing banking services.

“To all customers of the Tavistock branch, I can’t help but have this immense feeling that we have let you down, and that is what makes this closing even more difficult to bear,” he said.

Many customers who visited the branch on its final day shared similar feelings, calling the closure a sad moment in Tavistock’s history.