The board and senior executives of Bendigo Bank have been challenged to work with the Yarram and district community to provide a face-to-face banking solution for the town.
In the wake of Bendigo Bank’s decision to close the Yarram branch without any consultation with account holders, Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester has raised the issue in Canberra.
Speaking in Federal Parliament, Mr Chester said the Bendigo Bank liked to promote itself as the better big bank, “but when it comes to shutting country branches, the Bendigo Bank is proving to be just as bad as the rest of them”.
“This is a disgraceful decision from a bank which pretends to care for regional customers and then does exactly the same thing as the ‘big four’ banks,” Mr Chester told Parliament.
“In the case of Yarram, the bank is saying it will transfer customer accounts to the Bendigo Bank branch in Traralgon, which is 64 kilometres away, and takes 50 minutes to drive in good conditions.
“What about older residents, people with disabilities, community groups, or small business people who need access to a branch, cash, and face-to-face service?
“The bank executives who made this decision are demonstrating their contempt for regional people and their obsession with the bank’s bottom line. They should hang their heads in shame.
“Why should loyal customers have to pay for petrol to access their money in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis?”
Mr Chester said the lack of consultation and formal review process by the bank’s executives had demonstrated a lack of respect for local customers.
“Now, the community is calling on the bank’s executives to help them form a community bank to ensure a physical branch remains in Yarram,” Mr Chester said.
“It’s a reasonable request, and any decent corporation with an ounce of integrity would work with the community to provide a seamless transition to a new model of banking in Yarram.
“If the Bendigo Bank wants to salvage any of its reputation over its appalling handling of this issue, it will support the community in its efforts to establish a community bank to replace the retail outlet which is closing at the end of September, despite the Yarram community’s best efforts.”
