Perth to be epicentre of ideas for WA Community Bank® State Conference
On May 4 and 5, more than 170 Bendigo Community Bank® directors and staff from around the State will converge at the Novotel Perth Langley as the 'epicentre of ideas' for the 2017 WA Community Bank® State Conference.
The Community Bank® Conference theme for 2017 is: Working to our strengths >> Realising our potential >> Harnessing our power >> Sharing our successes
Bendigo Bank State Manager, Simone Ellul, said: "Western Australia is a significant and growing force in Bendigo Bank's commitment to retail banking services for Australian communities and I look forward to greeting representatives from Community Banks around the State.
"A highlight will be the opportunity for several of our senior executives to see presentations from directors and staff who will detail significant locally funded projects in their communities prior to announcing the Community Choice Awards for the Best Community Project and Best Local Promotion.
"The Community Bank® concept has been warmly embraced in the West and has continued to grow steadily since the launch of Western Australia’s pioneering Community Bank® at Kulin in 1999".
Bendigo Bank Executive, Engagement Innovation, Robert Musgrove said: "The continuing feedback we get from conference delegates is that they value hearing about initiatives from within their State, the time spent networking and workshopping with 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.
"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.
"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 WA and the other States and Territories and has been embraced by hundreds of communities across the nation.
"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 more new branches in our growing WA network," Mr Musgrove concluded.
