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Loddon HERALD Vol 3 No 12 THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2023 ISSN 2653-1550
BANK BOLT BLOW
BENDIGO Bank has been accused of acting like “the big four” after the axing of its Pyramid Hill agency.
Shocked agency owner Mark Lacey was handed the closure notice by bank executives last Thursday, three days after agencies had been told not to open new online accounts as a cybersecurity precaution.
n Axe falls on local agency n Community vents anger
Closure from July 31 will mean business owners driving to larger towns to do their banking. “It is a kick in the guts,” said owner of agricultural supply business Neville Miller. “Bendigo has always been a community-
style bank, always claiming not to be like other banks but they are.” Bendigo, along with Commonwealth and Westpac had said there would be no cuts to regional branches until the current
Senate inquiry into closures was complete. However, banks say their agency networks are not classified as a branch under Banking Code of Practice compliance. Bendigo has refused to say whether it conducted a community impact assessment before yielding the axe on 15 agencies. Mr Lacey bought his Kelly Street building when he opened
the Bendigo Bank agency seven years ago. Three years ago, Mr Lacey incorporated a grocery store to strengthen business viability and serve the district’s large expat Filipino community. The grocery store’s future hangs in the balance. “One without the other just won’t work,” Mr Lacey said.
MORE REPORTS - PAGE 5
ST MARY’S Primary School Inglewood students Nakodah McEwan, Harry Patterson and Braxton Barnes were part of the school community’s Palm Sunday presentation, kicking off activities for Holy Week that will culminate in Loddon churches with Easter Sunday services for the Resurrection of Jesus. Students yesterday presented the Stations of the Cross devotion that commemorates Jesus’ last day on Earth and also held a barbecue Last Supper during the week. LH PHOTO
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