Australia's Cash Network Crumbles as Banks Close 2,489 Branches

A Senate inquiry in Australia has heard that over 2,489 bank branches have closed since 2017, forcing small retailers to become the last point of access to cash for many communities. This accelerating shift away from physical banking infrastructure mirrors the global trajectory toward a cashless, digitally controlled economy — a system that aligns with biblical warnings about centralised control over buying and selling in the end times. Revelation 13:17 warns of a coming system where 'no one may buy or sell' without compliance, and the erosion of cash independence is a foundational step toward that reality.