History

Drouin & District Community Bank® Branch

After officially opening its doors to the public last April‚ Drouin Community Bank® Branch is rapidly becoming the face of banking in the community.

Drouin Community Bank® got off to an early start with a temporary premises set up in the town in August 2001 before moving into the branch in Princess Street.

It all began in October 2000 when a group of volunteers went public with their plan to work with Bendigo Bank to open a Community Bank® in the town.

At the time‚ Bendigo Bank’s Community Banking model was two years old‚ with 23 Community Bank's operating. Today‚ Bendigo Bank’s Community Bank® network has rapidly expanded with more than $2 billion in banking business.

Drouin Community Bank® organiser and local businessman Bruno Persico said although Drouin had alternative banking services‚ there was growing discontent within the community regarding the future of these banking services.

“We decided to test the water and see just what sort of interest there was in raising share capital to open a Community Bank® in Drouin.

“The response was overwhelming‚ people not only willing to commit capital to the venture but also indicating they would be prepared to bank with Drouin Community Bank® if‚ and when‚ it opened for business.

“It was this commitment from future Customers that gave us‚ and Bendigo Bank‚ the confidence to proceed with a prospectus‚ raise the share capital and get this venture underway.”

Mr Persico said there was a real sense of pride in what the community has achieved a sense that Drouin Community Bank® is there for the long haul.

“This has been a truly community spirited campaign‚” he said.

“From the hundreds of hours local volunteers have made‚ both on the initial steering committee and now as directors of the bank board; locals who pledged their support‚ took part in a feasibility study and became shareholders and today‚ Customers.

“We have made a commitment to the people of Drouin to provide them with banking products and services to meet their personal‚ and business‚ banking needs‚” he said.