Rural communities will have fewer banking services as Bendigo Bank moves to wind down its agency model and step up e-banking across regional Australia.
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It will shutter its limited banking services available via third parties such as news agencies and post offices in rural areas around Australia by the end of the year.
See full list of closures:
Bendigo Bank's chief customer officer, Taso Corolis, said it was a "difficult decision" made from "evolving customer preferences".
Mr Corolis said the bank would "proactively" support customers, including by walking them through e-banking services.
'Very very angry'
Murrumbidgee Council deputy mayor Robert Black said the community was "very very angry".
The NSW Riverina council area has two agencies, Jerilderie and Darlington Point.
He said the closure of the agencies comes after the loss of other services in the area, such as the local butcher, newsagency and hairdresser.
"What will be next?" he asked.
Cr Black said it would be rural residents who would bear the cost, including travelling between 30-150km to get to the next branch.
"There is no compensation for rural residents," he said. "It's another one of the penalties for living in rural communities."
He blamed the federal government's water buyback, which he said had seen rural communities "shrink".
Lachlan Shire Council mayor John Medcalf echoed the disappointment, adding there had been a lack of consultation.
The NSW Central West Council will lose the Cargelligo and Condoblin agencies.
"It will be especially hard for the elderly," he said.
"It was sold to customers as a community bank; the more people invested in the community, the more dividends the community would get out of it."
Carla Mascarenhas
Carla Mascarenhas is a journalist with Explore Travel and The Senior. She specialises in deep issues affecting Gen X and beyond, and the latest in travel news. Contact her on carla.mascarenhas@austcommunitymedia.com.au
