Council Statement - Bendigo Bank Branch Closures
Published on 08 August 2025
Murrindindi Shire Council is deeply concerned by the Bendigo Bank Corporate decision to close its Alexandra and Marysville agencies from October this year. This move represents yet another blow in the ongoing withdrawal of essential services from regional Victoria.
Communities like ours are being asked to accept reduced accessibility, diminished convenience, and less support, while still being expected to adapt to metro-centric solutions that do not reflect our realities. These closures follow the retreat of the ‘Big Four’ banks, which have already removed in-person services across Murrindindi. For many, Bendigo Bank was seen as the last bank still standing. That is no longer the case in Alexandra or Marysville.
We know these decisions disproportionately affect the most vulnerable, older residents, people with disabilities, those with limited digital literacy, and those without reliable access to technology, who rely on face-to-face banking. For these individuals, the shift to digital-only services risks deepening exclusion and financial insecurity. It’s not that internet banking is impossible, it’s that it’s inaccessible for those who need personal support. The notion that everyone can simply ‘go online’ is not only flawed, but also discriminatory.
In small towns like Marysville and Alexandra, the local bank is more than just a place to do your banking. It's a trusted service, a point of connection, and a critical part of local economic activity. When that service disappears, so too does foot traffic, community confidence, and financial inclusion.
We acknowledge that the Yea Community Bank branch will remain operational, and we thank the local team for their ongoing commitment to our community. But one branch cannot service an entire region.
Council maintains that banking is essential infrastructure, particularly in rural areas where alternatives are limited without travelling great distances.
We strongly urge Bendigo Bank to reconsider these closures or, at a minimum, engage directly with local councils and communities to co-design sustainable alternatives.
We call on State and Federal Governments to step up, not with just words of concern, but with real action. It is time to regulate where market forces have failed and to treat equitable access to banking as a national obligation, not a commercial afterthought.
The 2023 Senate Inquiry into Regional Banking Services make it clear: banks should be required to engage meaningfully with affected communities before withdrawing services. It also recommended strengthening the role of Australia Post and Bank@Post as part of a national access strategy and called for a mandatory minimum service standard in regional areas.
These are not radical ideas, they are fair and necessary protections for rural communities. We urge all levels of government to implement the Inquiry’s recommendations without delay. Without policy change and stronger regulation, communities like ours will continue to pay the price for decisions made far from the realities we face every day.
“The closure of local banking services is not just a financial inconvenience—it’s an economic and social setback for our towns,” said Cr Sandice McAulay, Portfolio Councillor for Economic Development. “Banks play a crucial role in supporting local businesses, enabling tourism, and building community confidence. These closures put that all at risk, and we expect better for regional Victoria.”
This is not just about Alexandra or Marysville. This is about the future of regional Australia and the basic right to access essential services, no matter where you live. We will continue to stand up for our communities, and we will not accept silence as a substitute for support.