Bendigo branches out in regional NSW in 2004

Bendigo Bank has today announced that it will open branches in four key regional New South Wales centres in 2004.

The Bank will open company owned branches in Orange, Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour and Griffith within the next four to eight months.

Retail Chief General Manager Greg Gillett said the regional NSW expansion plans were a direct result of continuing demand for the Bendigo style of banking throughout the State.

“Bendigo Bank is committed to regions around Australia and in this case, all four regional cities are key centres which are extremely important to New South Wales,” Mr Gillett said.

“The expansion we have announced will create jobs, boost support for business and broaden banking choice in each of these regions.”

The opening of the company owned branches will be complemented by the opening of a further five community owned Bendigo Bank branches, all located in regional New South Wales.

Community Bank® branches to open in NSW in 2004 include Sanctuary Point, Milton, Hillston, Narrandera and Adelong.

The establishment of company owned branches in these regions will support the further development of the State's Community Bank® network.

“We have already identified existing demand for Community Banking in these regions and Bendigo's investment in these regions will provide further stimulus and support for these campaigns,” Mr Gillett said.

“There is no Bendigo Bank branch presence in, or around the cities of Orange, Port Macquarie or Coffs Harbour.

“Experience elsewhere shows that our customers, whether they bank in a company or community-owned branches, and our Community Bank® branches do benefit from a network of branches around them.

“The establishment of branches in Orange, Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour will provide a base from which surrounding communities contemplating Community Banking campaigns can draw support from.”

The expansion of Bendigo Bank throughout NSW has been gradual during the past few years.

The Victorian-based company opened the State's first community owned branch in 1999 and the first Sydney-based company owned branch in December 2001. Today Bendigo Bank has 29 branches throughout NSW.

Mr Gillett said Bendigo continued to be committed to providing community support beyond banking.

Community leaders within the four regional cities have already expressed interest in Bendigo's community enhancement initiatives, in particular the youth mentor program Lead On and a community telecommunications concept.

“We believe that successful customers and successful communities create a successful bank – in that order,” Mr Gillett said.

“If we can help these four regional centres to become prosperous, and we are a banker to the region, then our business will automatically benefit.”

Bendigo Bank supports a network of 264 branches in every State and the ACT with total assets under management of almost $13 billion and more than 800,000 customers.