Regional Closures Set for October 2025
Bendigo Bank will shut down 28 of its agency locations across Australia by October 2025. The closures affect agencies in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia.
The bank confirmed the decision followed a consistent decline in customer use and increasing operating costs. These agencies, often based in newsagencies or retail outlets, offered limited services in towns that could not support full branches.
Bendigo Bank shuts down 28 agency locations across Australia
Agency Model Ends After 30 Years
Bendigo Bank launched the agency model three decades ago. It allowed customers in regional communities to perform basic transactions in locations without full branches.
Chief customer officer Taso Corolis said the shift was due to changing banking habits and rising costs. “To preserve what makes our bank unique, we must prioritise our investments across both physical and digital channels to continue meeting the changing needs and growing expectations of our 2.7 million customers,” he said.
“We are proactively supporting customers affected by the closures and will offer them assistance,” Corolis added.
Chief Customer Officer, Taso Corolis
List of Agency Closures
New South Wales:
Lake Cargelligo, Jerilderie, Grenfell, Crookwell, Cowra, Condobolin, Buronga, Mathoura, Blackheath, Darlington Point, Holbrook, Berrigan
Victoria:
Wedderburn, Wycheproof, Clunes, Alexandra, Boort, Myrtleford, Marysville, Welshpool, St Arnaud
South Australia:
Port MacDonnell, Kingston, Cleve, Tumby Bay, Wudinna
Western Australia:
Cunderdin
Queensland:
Taroom
Taroom Left with One In-Person Option
In Queensland, the town of Taroom will lose its only Bendigo Bank access point. This leaves about 800 residents with only the local post office for in-person banking. The nearest branch is in Mundubbera, a two-hour drive away.
More than 100 locals attended a community meeting on 16 July after learning of the closure. “They’ve been in our town for 10 years; all the other banks have packed up and gone,” said local resident Steve Clarke. “The post office is not suitable for anyone who is a bit frail or on walkers.”
The Australia Post outlet will be Taroom’s only in-person banking option after October
Concerns for Safety and Cash Handling
Federal member for Flynn Colin Boyce attended the Taroom meeting. He raised concerns over public safety. “We’ve got a situation where we’ll have people driving several hundred kilometres to seek a bank, with possibly hundreds of thousands of dollars under the front seat of their car,” he said.
Boyce added that post offices have a $2,000 cash withdrawal limit. “Now it’s a 400 kilometre round trip to the bank,” he said, citing issues for small business and community events.
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Communities Seek Dialogue with Bank
Although Bendigo Bank said the closures were permanent, Taroom locals hope to engage directly with the bank’s headquarters. “All we can do is try,” Boyce said.
He highlighted technical issues in rural areas that restrict access to digital banking. “Electronic banking is all about communication … when you live in these small rural communities, communication is somewhat suspect,” he said.
Alpine Shire Voices Regional Concerns
In Victoria, Alpine Shire Council Mayor Sarah Nicholas called the decision disappointing. Myrtleford will lose its Bendigo Bank agency despite the region’s population growth. “Whether it’s an agency or a bricks-and-mortar bank building, the service is still being lost,” she said.
She noted that Commonwealth Bank had reversed bendigo plans to close its Myrtleford branch. Residents have begun switching institutions due to closures, Nicholas said.
Digital Gap Adds Complexity
Nicholas warned of challenges posed by a growing digital divide. “It’s fine for the digital natives who are coming through … but people who have to build those skills up later in life often find it difficult to navigate,” she said.
Her remarks echoed concerns shared in several affected communities, where digital-only banking access could leave some customers behind.
