Bendigo Bank and Tasmanian Trustees announce new alliance

Bendigo Bank and Tasmanian Trustees today announced an alliance which will deliver banking services to the trustee company's 27,000 clients.

The alliance was announced jointly in Launceston today by Bendigo Bank managing director Rob Hunt and Tasmanian Trustees chairman Barry Henry.

It will see Bendigo Bank provide badged banking products for distribution through Tasmanian Trustees' five branches.

Mr Hunt and Mr Henry said that with more than 250 years combined experience in providing customer-focused financial services , Bendigo Bank and Tasmanian Trustees were "a good cultural match".

"We both very much look forward to our partnership."

Mr Hunt said the arrangement marked Bendigo Bank's first foray into the Tasmanian banking market and held "tremendous prospects for both companies".

"It enables the Bank to utilise the existing strengths of a local organisation together with Bendigo's banking expertise.

"Similarly, Tasmanian Trustees can vastly expand its product range and electronic services such as phone and internet banking without building new systems.

"It is a win-win for both organisations, and most importantly for the customers of the trustee company.

"Bendigo Bank is committed to the communities it serves and this is one more important group we can support."

Mr Henry said the partnership would be launched on 1 June.

"Initially, we will launch a cash management account with Visa and chequebook facilities and full access to ATM, eftpos, phone and internet banking," he said.

"Ultimately, though, our intention is to make the full range of Bendigo Bank products available to our clients.

"Bendigo Bank's investment in leading edge technology, its commitment to provide a wide range of banking and financial services to households, consumer markets and small to medium businesses in regional and rural Australia makes it an ideal partner for us to deliver first-class service to Tasmanians."