General News
29 July, 2025
Bendigo Bank to exit regional agencies, closing the doors on Clunes and St Arnaud
Clunes residents will soon be without their much loved bank and newsagency, following Bendigo Bank’s announcement to close its agencies nationwide.
Bendigo Bank officially announced last Tuesday it would be discontinuing its agency model later this year, currently servicing eight regional Victorian communities, including Clunes.
In a statement released by Bendigo Bank, the organisation said it will no longer be supporting the model due to a decrease in customer use.
The agency model, established over 30 years ago, meant unlimited banking services via third party organisations in small communities where there was not enough customers to sustain a branch.
The Clunes Agency will shut on October 21, 2025.
The closest Bendigo Bank services to Clunes are Creswick and Maryborough.
The Bendigo Bank agency in St Arnaud, who currently have a Community Bank partnership with Maryborough and Avoca, will also close on October 17.
The move has been met with criticism from both sides of politics.
Member for Ripon Martha Haylett said the shutdown was a loss to the locals who use these services.
“The closure of the Bendigo Bank branches in Clunes and St Arnaud are a huge loss to our community. Many residents, especially the elderly and small businesses rely on face-to-face banking,” she said.
“Closures like this hit our rural communities the hardest.”
Member for Mallee Anne Webster also condemned the move.
“I am very disappointed that four of the 28 Bendigo Bank agency closures are occurring in the Mallee. The Nationals fought for and secured a senate inquiry into regional bank closures which successfully pressured the big four banks to put moratorium on further regional bank closures extended into mid 2026-27. Bendigo Bank were not parties to that moratorium, and I respect these are agency not branch closures. Nonetheless, residents will lose a service,” she said.
“As Shadow Minister for Regional Communications, I am exploring whether Australia Post, within my portfolio, can be supported to provide services in towns where Bank@Post remains or can be extended.”
Bendigo Bank’s chief customer officer consumer Taso Corolis said the decision to retire the agency model was informed by evolving customer preferences leading to reduction in business activity, limited use of these services and an increase in cost and compliance obligation.
“Bendigo Bank operates more branches per customer than any other Australian bank and is Australia’s second largest regional branch network. We are proud of our regional heritage and are committed to providing excellent face-to-face banking services for our customers,” he said.
“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.
“We understand it may take time for some customers to adjust to these changes as we will support them through it. We are proactively supporting customers affected by the closures and will offer them assistance. This may be in the form of connecting them with their closest alternate services including their nearest branch, or Bank@Post locations, and walking them through e-banking services available, when required.”
Bendigo Bank said customers will still be able to transact as normal at any Bendigo Bank branch, ATM or at any time via internet banking, the mobile app, or by calling 1300 236 344.
Customers are also able to bank in person via Bank@Post at any Australia Post outlet.
Maryborough, St Arnaud and Avoca Community Bank were unable to comment at this time.