"I'm not sure how that would have happened, that's embarrassing," Mr Hart told the committee, sitting in Kingston. Westpac group chief customer engagement officer Ross Miller acknowledged it mixed up councils, with Peter Bean the chief executive of the City of Kingston in Melbourne. Westpac emailed a "Dear Mr Bean" notice to Kingston District Council advising of its branch closure. (HANDOUT/SENATE INQUIRY INTO RURAL BANK CLOSURES) "We apologise to the chief executive of Kingston council, but also to Peter Bean at Kingston in Victoria," Mr Miller said. He said Westpac had improved its communications and spoke directly with councils when closing a branch. It is one of many stories of the disconnect between the major banks and rural communities aired at the year-long Senate inquiry into branch closures.