The Courier followed up concerns raised by Sebastopol residents prompted by the news the branch of the post office is due to close in February next year.

The Commonwealth Bank had previously closed its doors in May, saying it was likely to be for around six months.

Seven months later, and that plan has now been pushed further back, with no definite timelines available.

David Castle, a regional general manager for the bank, told The Courier in a statement: "We have not reached a view on when temporarily closed branches will begin to reopen, but we continue to monitor the health situation, government advice and customer demand."

At the time of the closure in May, the bank said staff had been moved to "better serve those most in need over the phone."

Mr Castle said: "At this stage call centre volumes remain high and our redeployed staff are performing a valuable service to our customers who are contacting us by phone, including the large number of customers for whom the deferral of their loan repayments is coming to an end."

"We expect it will continue to be several more months before branches reopen."

Since the bank closed, the post office had been the only place in the area where some residents could pay bills.

The licencee will close the Albert Street branch, and move to Delacombe Town Centre in February. Local residents and politicians are urging Australia Post to ensure a branch remains in the suburb, which is home to man elderly people..

In the meantime, the timing for plans to overhaul an existing Coles, also on Albert Street, remain unclear.

Despite a planning permit being granted last year for a much larger, improved supermarket, a Coles spokesperson could not provide clear dates apart from to say the development was "in its final planning stages."

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