Help for bushfire impacted customers in South Western Victoria 

Important Assistance Package Information

Emergency Management Victoria (EMV) has partnered with Bendigo Bank to establish a Community Relief Fund in support of community members affected by the Southwest Victoria fires.  The Fund aims to support communities across Colac-Otway, Corangamite, Warrnambool, Moyne, and Southern Grampians areas where the fires have destroyed homes and impacted primary producers.   The Fund provides a formal channel for the public to donate money directly to affected communities and is designed to achieve positive outcomes for the community, by working directly with local recovery committees and structures to inform and drive the distribution of funds.  

Head of Bendigo Consumer Banking, State Distribution, Nick Carter said: “Our thoughts are with those people and communities impacted by the recent bushfires in South Western Victoria. We are glad everyone is safe, give thanks for the tireless efforts of our firefighters and volunteers and would like to let affected customers know that we are here to help”.

“Bendigo Bank has prepared an assistance package and implemented several concessions to help affected customers rebuild their lives after the devastation caused by the recent bushfires.  We have also set up a dedicated South West Victorian Fire Appeal fund that can accept donations to help victims that will be distributed to further assist those people in their recovery over coming months and years”.

“Bendigo Bank is working with Emergency Management Victoria, Cobden District Health Services, the Cobden and Camperdown Community Banks and our wider Community Bank® network to help facilitate the relief effort. Our branches in the fire-affected areas have already committed $5000 to kick-start donations”, Mr Carter concluded.

Chairman of Cobden and Districts Community Bank^®, James Green, said the local branch and wider Bendigo Bank network were keen to do all they could to help local people following the fires.  "Funds raised now will be ready to be distributed to those in need, when and where they need it."

Funds raised will be used  for a range of locally identified charitable initiatives such as clean-up activities, business support or counselling, temporary fencing, and water quality control measures.

Bendigo Bank’s Community Enterprise Foundation CEO David Impey said the Foundation was able to help build stronger local communities by helping them respond to their current and future needs.  “We urge people across Australia to donate to the Fund and support communities who have been impacted.  “Our past experience tells us that Australians are generous when it comes to helping those in need. Monetary donations are effective and provide more flexibility than the donation of material items or pre-loved goods”, Mr Impey concluded.

Insurance

If you are a Bendigo Bank Insurance customer with a damaged home, rental building, car or other property please get in touch with us. We can help you make a claim or offer advice.

• If your policy is through CGU Insurance please call 13 24 80
• If your policy is through Allianz Insurance please call 13 10 13

You can lodge a claim with our insurance partners any time, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Financial Difficulty Assistance

We understand that the impact of the fires could affect you financially, that’s why we have a plan in place to help you out.

The key features of the Assistance Package for bushfire affected customers include:

• Home Loan and Business Loan customers can apply for relief on loans for up to three months
• Credit card customers can apply for an emergency credit card limit increase
• Discounted interest rates on new personal loans taken out by existing Bendigo Bank customers
• Waiver of interest rate reduction for early withdrawals on term deposits prior to maturity
• No ‘loan break’ costs for customers with a fixed rate who use an insurance payment to pay out their loan
• Existing customers with home and contents insured through CGU Insurance may be able to claim for emergency funds and temporary accommodation costs

Affected Bendigo Bank customers are advised to speak with their local Branch Manager, Business Banking Manager or contact our Mortgage Help Centre on 1300 652 146 regarding financial hardship and applying for assistance or visit: https://www.bendigobank.com.au/support/.

The Bank’s agribusiness specialist, Rural Bank also provides a range of disaster assistance measures and will be working with impacted farming customers to understand their individual circumstances and apply the most effective means of support as they take the first steps towards recovery.

Victorian Bushfire Appeal

If you’d like to help those impacted by the fires, donations to the Community Relief Fund can be made at any Bendigo Bank branch. The fund is administered by Bendigo Bank’s philanthropic arm, Community Enterprise Foundation™. Funds raised will help the communities impacted by the disaster rebuild and recover.  Donations over $2 are tax deductible and can be made at any Bendigo Bank branch, by phoning 1300 304 541.

South West Victorian fire Appeal is a management account of the Community Enterprise Foundation™ ABN 69 694 230 518, PO Box 480, Bendigo Vic 3552. Funds raised from this appeal will be disbursed as grants and gifts to eligible charitable organisations to assist with relief, recovery and reconstruction projects for communities in the fire effected areas of South West Victoria.