Bendigo Bank: Lake Innes store follows footsteps of other banks to close in Port Macquarie
A customer who switched to Bendigo Bank after his previous provider left town, will now have to transfer institutions once more after it announced it was heading for the exit gates.
Mid-North Coast
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A Port Macquarie resident who switched banks when his previous provider, Suncorp, left town will be forced to transfer his funds yet again after hearing his new bank was leaving its Lake Innes premises in March.
Last week, The Mid-North Coast News reported Bendigo Bank has announced it was leaving Lake Innes after 17 years. The branch, which began operating in 2004, told to customers on January 8 that it was packing up Port Macquarie, and that all existing retail customers would be required to either do their physical banking business in Kendall or Coffs Harbour — two hours away.
A Bendigo Bank spokesman said changing customers habits to phone and online banking, no longer made the physical branch ‘viable’ for the company.
Rod Worthing, a Bendigo Bank customer, got in touch with The Mid-North Coast News after we approached him about the story.
He told us the closure would be of considerable inconvenience to his personal life, given he is older, and enjoys banking in store.
“Being a bit old fashioned, and not fully into today’s technology, I sometimes need to visit the bank for help from the staff,” he said.
“So by them moving to Coffs Harbour, this is not on.
“I must mention also that we were with Suncorp until they pulled out of Port Macquarie, before changing over to Bendigo.
“I would like to thank the staff for their professional service in the past.
“It makes sense to bank locally and I have arranged a meeting with the commonwealth bank.”
A Bendigo Bank Mobile Lender will remain in Port Macquarie, however the bank is yet to identify an adequate office space from where it will run the service. The same is also true for the banks ATM, which will remain, but be relocated to an unidentified location.
The lender will deal with residential and investment lending requirements, only.
“Following an ongoing review of transaction activity and evolving customer banking habits, with an increasing number of customers choosing to complete their day-to-day banking online or over the phone, Bendigo Bank’s Port Macquarie branch will close on Friday 26 March 2021,” a spokesman told The Mid-North Coast News.
From March 26, retail customer accounts will be transferred to the Coffs Harbour branch, two hours away.
“Customers can also visit our Bendigo Bank Agency at Kendall, located at 19 Comboyne St, Kendall,” the spokesman said.
Customers will be able to conduct face-to-face banking Australia Post, using Bank@Post.
In Port Macquarie, Bank@Post can be found at Australia Post, Palm Court Centre, shop 2/14-16 Short Street.
“Additionally, customers can transact as normal at any Bendigo Bank branch or ATM, via internet banking, our mobile app or via phone banking on 1300 236 344.”
Staff at the Port Macquarie Branch will be on hand to assist any customers who may not yet have experienced our online or phone banking services.
The spokesman said jobs will be impacted, but declined to report how many, or whether a redeployment option would be made available.
“There will be some staff impacts, however we won’t elaborate out of respect of privacy,” the spokesman said.
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