Geelong’s bank that cares

Bendigo Bank is committed to being the better big bank, strengthening the Geelong Community through a number of multi-million-dollar investments over the years.

As part of its unique Profit-with-Purpose model, the Bendigo Community Bank network has returned more than $292 million to Australian communities, including a significant $15 million contribution to Geelong that has helped make possible projects such as Bendigo Bank House, providing comfortable low-cost accommodation for patients and families undergoing treatment at Barwon Health.

And it’s not just Bendigo Community Banks that are investing in the Geelong community. Under a new partnership called Benefit Geelong (benfitgeelong.com.au), the bank has invested a further $185,000 that will contribute to improving lives by strengthening social capital, community welfare, the environment and providing health education.

Juliana Dos Santos Gebara, Bendigo Bank’s business banking regional manager, says there are 16 branches located across the Geelong, Bellarine and Surf Coast region, all run by local teams, with local insights.

“This presence gives the wider Geelong community access to banking specialists with valuable local knowledge and experience,” she said.

“Bendigo Bank has everything you need from a bank, including a comprehensive selection of Business Banking products and services to help local businesses thrive.”

Since opening its doors in central Victoria more than 165 years ago, Bendigo Bank has been a leader in Australian banking, including being the first to introduce debit cards, green loans and home loan offset accounts.

“We were also the first to introduce the unique Community Bank model in 1998,” Ms Dos Santos said.

“Our community banking model is an internationally recognised shared value initiative, returning profits to the people and communities that generate them, which was a brave and bold move by a regional bank in a rapidly evolving banking and finance sector at the time.

“Today, more than 20 years later, there are more than 300 Community Bank branches throughout Australia, partnering with one of Australia’s biggest banks.”

As a member of the Geelong Chamber of Commerce since 1980, Bendigo Bank is set to reach gold member status in 2023. “Supporting Geelong businesses matters to us,” Ms Dos Santos said.

“Through the Chamber, we have seen the depth of support that Geelong businesses offer one another and the broader community, and as such we feel that the chamber is also a natural fit for the Bank. Our values are aligned.

“I like to tell people that we’re a bank with ‘listeners, not tellers’… and being part of the Chamber has allowed us to connect directly with the Geelong business community, listen to what matters to them, showcase what we do as a bank to strengthen the community and why local businesses should consider us when looking for a banking partner.”

Bendigo Bank meets the banking needs of more than 2.3 million customers in communities across Australia.

For more, head to bendigobank.com.au