Shutdowns to affect banking access in towns from NSW to WA
Dozens of regional communities across Australia are set to lose access to in-person banking as Bendigo Bank phases out its agency model starting October. The decision affects 28 agency locations in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia.
The move comes as the bank reviews how it delivers services, citing changing customer behaviour and reduced demand for physical transactions in agency locations. These agencies have served areas where a full branch was not financially viable.
Taso Corolis, chief customer officer for consumer banking at Bendigo Bank, said the closures were a response to a broader shift in how Australians manage their money.
“To preserve what makes our bank unique, we must prioritise our investments across both physical and digital channels to continue meeting the changing needs and growing expectations of our 2.7 million customers,” Corolis said. He reassured that affected customers would receive support, including help locating the nearest available branch or alternative services.
In Taroom, the closure has raised serious concerns among residents. According to reporting by the ABC, locals fear being cut off from essential financial services, as the next nearest Bendigo Bank branch is a two-hour drive away in Mundubbera.
Once the agency closes, the only in-person option in the town of fewer than 1,000 residents will be the Australia Post outlet, which some say is inaccessible for older or mobility-impaired individuals.
Federal MP Colin Boyce, who represents the electorate of Flynn, said the closures pose both safety and logistical issues. He warned that people may be forced to travel long distances with large amounts of cash, putting them at risk. “Now we’ve got a situation where we’ll have people driving several hundred kilometres to seek a bank, with possibly hundreds of thousands of dollars under the front seat of their car.”
Boyce also noted that unreliable internet access makes digital banking a poor substitute.
In Alpine Shire, the closure of the Myrtleford agency has prompted similar concerns. Mayor Sarah Nicholas said the loss of local services undermines confidence in regional growth. In addition, many older residents struggle with digital platforms and risk being excluded.
“It’s fine for the digital natives… but people who have to build those skills up later in life often find it difficult to navigate,” Nicholas said.
Here is the list of regional agency closures:
New South Wales
- Lake Cargelligo
- Jerilderie
- Grenfell
- Crookwell
- Cowra
- Condobolin
- Buronga
- Mathoura
- Blackheath
- Darlington Point
- Holbrook
- Berrigan
Victoria
- Wedderburn
- Wycheproof
- Clunes
- Alexandra
- Boort
- Myrtleford
- Marysville
- Welshpool
- St Arnaud
South Australia
- Port MacDonnell
- Kingston
- Cleve
- Tumby Bay
- Wudinna
Western Australia
- Cunderdin
Queensland
- Taroom
