MEDIA RELEASE | BENDIGO BANK - CLOSURE OF GRENFELL AGENCY

Published on 25 July 2025

MEDIA RELEASE(PDF, 98KB) |  WEDDIN SHIRE COUNCIL

BENDIGO BANK - CLOSURE OF GRENFELL AGENCY

Weddin Shire Council is deeply disappointed by Bendigo Bank’s recent announcement that the Grenfell agency will close in October 2025. This decision will have a significant impact on our community, particularly residents who rely on in-person banking. The closure represents more than just the loss of a bank; it threatens the independence of our most vulnerable residents, affects the liveability of our town, and undermines Council’s efforts to support local business, attract new residents, and maintain essential services.

Weddin Shire Council remains committed to advocating for the needs of our community. I will be writing to Bendigo Bank CEO Richard Fennell to express strong disapproval of this decision and urge them to reconsider. I will also be contacting our Federal Member, the Hon. Michael McCormack MP, to raise concerns about the implications of rural bank closures in regional communities, especially Weddin Shire.

The only service now left for our residents is the agency at the Post Office, the decision of Bendigo Bank to close will have a significant impact on our community whom are predominately elderly, and those that are not able to utilise internet banking will require transportation to other locations to undertake their banking requirements.  This is not good enough.

The Bendigo Bank tagline is ‘The Better Big Bank – caring for millions of customers, you need a bank to give you the products and services you need.  We need your banking to help us make a difference’; it now appears as they have got bigger the regional centres are made redundant.  Where is the customer care?

Cr Paul Best

MAYOR

25 July 2025

-END-