Council to protest devastating bank decision

Published on 25 July 2025

Loddon Shire Council will make its displeasure known to the Bendigo and Adelaide Bank following that company’s decision to close its agency network.

The bank this week announced it was axing the agency network in October, which will mean the closure of the Boort and Wedderburn bank agencies in Loddon Shire.

This follows an earlier closure of the Bendigo Bank agency in Pyramid Hill.

Council resolved at its July meeting to write to the Bendigo and Adelaide Bank expressing its disappointment and concern at the announcement that it is discontinuing its agency model.

Loddon Shire Mayor Dan Straub said the decision was shortsighted and devastating for local communities.

“This will create anxiety and stress to those residents and businesses who still require physical banking services, of which there are many such customers in our shire,” he said.

“We’ve already seen the anxiety it caused when they closed the Pyramid Hill agency about 18 months ago.

“In country communities cash is still king in many businesses and community groups, and our older residents can find online banking quite cumbersome.

“They would prefer to speak to customer service representatives in person for their banking needs as well.

“We know that all too well ourselves at Council with our residents wanting to speak with real people when they have business with us and it’s of the utmost importance that we give them that opportunity.

“That’s why it’s unfathomable that the bank, which makes a lot of its regional roots, would do this to country people.

“We hope they can see sense and overturn this disappointing decision.”