General News
1 August, 2025
Bendigo Bank’s agency closure “devastating” for Clunes newsXpress owners
Bendigo Bank’s recent decision to shut down their agencies nationwide has left small communities feeling the impact the most. Clunes is one of them.
On a very busy weekday afternoon at Clunes newsXpress, every single customer is asking owners Craig and Cynthia Drewer about their future.
In brief moments when there are no customers, people are ringing in to find out, and voice their concern.
“This could possibly take away from all of the other services that we do, it means that there is a lot of disappointment and a little bit of anger,” Mr Drewer said.
Just as the news erupted that all of the nation’s Bendigo Bank agencies would be shutting down, two representatives came into the couple’s business and served them with a letter detailing the decision.
That was when they had formal confirmation of the closure.
“We rock up to work, we enjoy being part of the town, we made this our home 15 years ago. It is devastating it has come to this situation,” Mr Drewer said.
The pair have run the Clunes newsXpress for seven years.
The agency was already in place when they took over.
Together they survived a destroyed ATM and shopfront in 2019, followed by the unpredictability of the COVID pandemic.
But the recent announcement is additional pressure on the couple’s entire business, not just their bank services.
“This is a business we have worked hard to keep going. It was smashed, we rebuilt. We went through COVID and kept on going. To have it taken out of our hands stops us in our tracks effective in October,” he said.
Operating as the town’s dual newsagency and bank agency, the pair have already been trying to sell the business for 18 months.
They said the move to close all Bendigo Bank agencies has significantly devalued their business.
“We have to make a very sad decision in the coming months if we can’t find someone to take the place on board. That is not the way we want to leave the business,” Mr Drewer said.
Their role in the community has included catching charges over 1000 kilometers away and cancelling a card following a theft, transfering customer’s money to their grandchildren, or being a place where sporting or farming groups got their floats for community events.
The agency was a family for those who had none close by.
“Some people will bank two or three times a week. Businesses that bank with us will no longer have these facilities. We have checked for fraud after people have showed us suspicious messages or phone calls,” Mr Drewer said.
“We activate cards for people, help them set their pin numbers. Those sorts of services will not be available. Many of our customers don’t drive anymore. Going all the way to Creswick for banking is simply not possible.
“Some people might not bank here, but they will lose other services in town. If we have to step away, then there are no paper deliveries.”
Since the announcement, Bendigo Bank has encouraged customers to opt to online services or use banking services available at Australia Post.
But Mr Drewer said these services are very limited.
“You can use Bank@Post if you have a card account. As long as you have a card, you can deposit and withdraw. We do interbank transfers, we have people that pay bills with just an account number and business name. Without a card at the post office, you can’t do any of those. It’s not possible,” Mr Drewer said.
Despite feeling hurt by Bendigo Bank’s decision, the couple have highly praised the support they have always had from their parent branch based in Creswick, throughout their whole time running the newsXpress.
“We have had support from the Creswick branch and the board, they have always supported and stood by us,” Mr Drewer said.
As of 2 pm on October 21, a Bendigo Bank representative will arrive to do a final balance, and the business will be locked up.
Until then, the couple will continue to support locals who will be impacted.
Meanwhile, they have acknowledged the support the community has shown them.
“The support from the town has been terrific. No one’s happy with the decision,” Mr Drewer said.
“We have had people pop in who aren’t after anything, they just wanted to make sure we were ok.
“We’ve seen the support that the community has shown in light of the news wanting us to keep hanging on, even if that is not possible.”