Survey shows Bendigo customers have reason to smile

The Australian Financial Review’s Smart Investor magazine has released the results of its latest SMILES Survey, voting Bendigo Bank as best overall service provider and day to day banking provider for 2009.

This is the second consecutive year the bank has been voted by readers as the leader in both categories in the nationwide survey.

The SMILES (Smart Investor League of Exceptional Service) Survey rates organisations on value for money, quality of customer service, fees, charges and products across 11 categories, including best overall service provider.

Executive, Customer and Community for Bendigo and Adelaide Bank, Russell Jenkins, said this recognition demonstrates how strongly the efforts of our staff are valued by the public.

“This is a fantastic result and on behalf of the bank and all our staff, I would like to say thank you to our customers for their continued support.

“The accolade is especially pleasing considering the challenges our business, staff and customers have faced as a result of the global financial crisis,” Mr Jenkins said.

Results from the survey highlighted voter satisfaction with Bendigo Bank’s commitment to investing in local communities through the Community Bank^® model and also praised bank staff for their ability to help customers not feel like “another number”.

“In towns and suburbs right across Australia, Bendigo Bank has more than 530 customer service outlets including 243 Community Bank^® branches, which are owned and operated by local people,” Mr Jenkins said.

“In the past decade these branches have returned more than $30.4 million dollars, assisting local community groups and helping them to build infrastructure to improve where, and how they live.

“We believe that successful customers, create a successful community which creates a successful bank, but only in that order,” he said.