Brisbane to buzz as epicentre of ideas for QLD Community Bank® State Conference

On the 8th and 9th of March, more than 200 Bendigo Community Bank^®directors and staff will converge on Brisbane as the 'epicentre of ideas' for the 2017 State Annual Conference.   The Conference is also an opportunity for peers to formally welcome staff from new Bendigo network branches in Stanthorpe, Canungra and Cleveland as part of the growing Community Bank^® network across Queensland.

Delegates from Tugun on the border to Mareeba FNQ will be welcomed with an opening address by Brisbane Lord Mayor, Graham Quirk, along with the Bank’s Executive and senior business leaders from Queensland, Bendigo, Melbourne and Adelaide.  The Community Bank^® network has returned more than $165 million to local communities right across Australia with over $15.5 million invested in Queensland localities alone.   Backed by Bendigo Bank, Community Bank^® branches across Queensland are owned by local shareholders, run by volunteer directors and staffed by locals.

The Community Bank^® Conference theme for 2017 is:

Working to our strengths >> Realising our potential >> Harnessing our power >> Sharing our successes

The objective of the Brisbane State Conference program is to provide a forum for Community Bank^® directors and branch managers to engage and interact with each other and the Bendigo Bank team and to share and celebrate  their considerable successes.  Several senior executives will address delegates and see presentations from staff who will detail significant locally funded projects in their communities by their respective branches.

Bendigo Bank Executive, Engagement Innovation, Robert Musgrove said: "The continuing feedback we get from delegates is that they value hearing about initiatives from within their State, the time spent networking and workshopping with their peers and hearing from both internal and external experts in their fields.

"The content of the State conference has a localised focus, with community companies receiving tangible and practical support, advice and guidance that they can take away and utilise back within their own communities.  This year, we have an outstanding Keynote Speaker,  Darren Hill, Behavioural Scientist, author & Executive Director at Pragmatic Thinking.

"We also have the opportunity to raise vital funds to improve neonatal resuscitation techniques and training for medical professionals across Queensland via the Mater Little Miracles Foundation, which is a real highlight at this important event.

"The Community Bank^® point of difference is the financial return back to community. Every time a customer banks with one of our 313 locally owned branches around Australia, a percentage of revenue stays in and benefits the local community and the organisations and projects they're involved with.  Looking beyond the dollars and cents, the conference is a terrific opportunity to share some of the inspiring community success stories that underscore the true value to all those connected with this unique banking model.

"We’re reinvesting back into Australian towns, regional cities and metropolitan areas too - and today that investment has totalled more than $165 million. That’s $165 million Community Bank^® dollars reinvested in local communities - and this figure continues to grow every day.

"The Community Bank^® story began in Victoria back in 1998 when Bendigo Bank partnered with the Victorian rural communities of Rupanyup and Minyip to establish a banking pilot to return banking services in those towns.  Since then, the model has been exported to Queensland and the other States and Territories and has been embraced by hundreds of communities across the nation.

"We’re growing our network in Queensland and by happy coincidence, even managed to design our logo in the right colours!  In fact, it's because of our logo that more than a few Southerners mistakenly think we're a Queensland institution.  Well in Brisbane this week, we’re going to hear from our local branches and executives as to how we outline the way forward here in Queensland and how we intend to become a leading financial institution in this State.

"Next year will see us celebrating the 20 year anniversary of the Community Bank^®model with even more stories to share about strengthening and empowering local communities with unmet need - and hopefully with another warm welcome to some more new branches in our growing Queensland network," Mr Musgrove said.

View more about the Bendigo Community Bank^® model.

For the History lesson.

View a complete list of Community Bank^® projects around QLD (or in your area).