Bank of Queensland opens new, and only, SA branch in Adelaide CBD

At a time when plenty of bricks and mortar banks are shutting up shop, a new bank branch – and true family business – has opened up in Adelaide CBD.

Growing up, Pino Galimi dreamt of playing AFL but after an horrific football injury left him paralysed, a career in banking beckoned.

And the career change has proven so successful, this week Mr Galimi, 28, became one of the two youngest owner-managers of a Bank of Queensland branch in the nation.

Bank of Queensland owner manager Pino Galimi (second from right) with his dad William, brother Michael and mother-in-law Tina Tantis, who also work in the bank. Pic: PAULA THOMPSON

Located at Grenfell St in the city, the branch, which opened on Monday, signals a return to bricks and mortar in SA for the Bank of Queensland, at a time when many other banks are shutting branches.

For Mr Galimi, the opening was a return to his home state.

Born and raised in the western suburbs of Adelaide, living at Fulham Gardens and Kidman Park, for Mr Galimi AFL was always the big dream.

He played junior football for Woodville West Torrens and senior footy at Norwood, before a terrible injury during a Norwood match put a stop to his AFL dreams and left him paralysed at only 18.

Impact with another player while leaping for the ball left him in hospital without feeling in his legs.

Thankfully, through non-surgical treatment, Mr Galimi was able to walk again but footy was not to be.

While playing, Mr Galimi also completed a carpentry apprentice, but it was never his passion.

So, when looking at his career options after his injury ended any hope of making it to the AFL, Mr Galimi had a epiphany when applying for a loan for his first house.

“I was working as a carpenter, but I realised I wasn’t what I really wanted to be,” he said.

“I went to a banker about my first home loan and I remember going home and thinking ‘that person helped me so much’.

The interior of the new Bank of Queensland branch in Grenfell Street, Adelaide. Pic: PAULA THOMPSON

“I called them the next day and asked 101 questions about the industry.”

Securing a job with a credit union in SA, Mr Galimi quickly worked his way up the ranks and later moved into working for one of the major banks.

Mr Galimi later moved to Melbourne when working for the major bank and while living there made the move to the Bank of Queensland.

He worked in BOQ corporate at both Bourke St and Collingwood and was awarded the BOQ 2020 Qstar award for an emerging leader.

When the opportunity to move back to SA as an owner-manager of a branch, it was too good to resist.

“It was a perfect fit because the plan for me was always to go over to Melbourne and gain that experience in the banking industry and then move back,” he said.

Mr Galimi has made the branch a true family operation, with his dad William, brother Michael and mother-in-law Tina Tantis also working in the business.

“We do everything in-house from home lending, business lending, insurance, general everyday banking and commercial banking,” he said.