'Keep our bank open': Small Tasmanian community fights to overturn looming closure of Queenstown Bendigo Bank

Sky News AU

21 hours ago

A Tasmanian community has launched a bid to save its last banking branch on the West Coast ahead of the looming closure of Bendigo Bank's Queenstown site.
Bendigo Bank, which operates Australia's second biggest regional branch network, recently confirmed the closure of 10 branches across parts of Tasmania, Victoria and Queensland.
In Tasmania, the West Coast Queenstown branch till shut from September 26, while the Kings Meadow site in Launceston will close on August 1.
A Change.org petition has since begun in a bid to keep the doors open at the Queenstown site, which is the last standing branch of any Aussie bank in the historic mining town.
Local resident Janet Lay, who is spearheading the online petition, told SkyNews.com.au the branch is a "vital essential service" for the West Coast community.
Ms Lay fears the closure of the Queenstown site will force locals to travel lengthy distances for another physical branch, or resort to online banking.
"I do not do online banking - I refuse to," Ms Lay said.
For Ms Lay, in-person banking offers an experience online services cannot as speaking to a teller makes her "feel more in control" of her finances.
"You're actually dealing with a person and not just a machine," Ms Lay said.
"You can get real-time information. They (bank staffers) can assist you with any questions that you have."
The 48-year-old has concerns about how the branch closure will impact older members of the Queenstown and broader West Coast community who prefer to bank in person, like her mother.
"For my elderly mother, she will be extremely adversely impacted by this," Ms Lay said.
Ms Lay said her mum has always banked person-to-person, and has never used an ATM.
"There is no way she will ever do online banking because she just doesn't understand it and trust it, as many of our elderly in our community, and myself, don't trust online banking," she said.
Ms Lay said online scams are also a concern while completing financial tasks online.
The next closest Bendigo Bank branch to Queenstown is located on the coastal town of Burnie, which is about a two-hour drive north.
Ms Lay claimed the travel would impose an "extra cost" for individuals, community groups or local businesses hoping to do in person banking.
The closure of the Queenstown bank will also mean the removal of its ATM, leaving only one machine left in town, which Ms Lay said can often be unreliable.
"Our local community markets around the West Coast rely on people going in with cash, so they would be adversely impacted," she said, speaking of the branch and ATM closures.
While acknowledging nearby Australia Post offices offer banking services like cash withdrawals or deposits, Ms Lay believes it cannot replace the services offered by a bank or its tellers.
The Change.org petition, created on July 9, had amassed 270 signatures at the time of publishing.
"The ultimate goal is to change the Bendigo Bank's decision and to keep our bank open," Ms Lay said.
"Even if they reduce (hours) down to one day a week, or if they open one weekday and a Saturday once a fortnight.
"Even to be open on a Saturday would let people that work five days a week and can't get in there during the week to be able to go into the bank and use it."
Bendigo Bank confirmed the branch has been operating on reduced hours since the beginning of July, opening on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10.00am to 1.00pm, and 1.30pm to 4.00pm.
According to online Bendigo Bank figures, the Queenstown branch had 308 personal banking customers who made three or more regular visits in the year from May 2024 to April 2025.
About 190 customers made 12 or more visits to the branch for personal banking in the same timeframe.
The site had 66 business banking customers who made three or more visits over the last year, or 197 who attended the branch a dozen or more times.
In terms of personal banking transactions, the number of cash withdrawals hit a four-year high in 2023 at 150, up from 148 in 2022 and 141 in 2021.
However, the rate of personal banking cash withdrawals dropped in 2024 to a total of 95 before falling again to 61 in 2025.
A total of 2,222 personal cash deposits were recorded at the Queenstown Bendigo branch in 2021, followed by 2,289 in 2022, and 1,959 in 2023.
This rate increased to 2,726 in 2024 - the highest in the four-year period - before dipping to 2,433 in 2025.
According to the Bendigo Bank data, there were 2,234 business banking cash deposits in 2021, followed by 2,092 in 2022, 1,757 in 2023, 1,658 in 2024 and 1,219 in 2025.
A Bendigo Bank spokesperson said the decision to close the Queenstown branch came after a "review of evolving customer preferences, a reduction in business activity and an increase in costs".
"The Bank apologises for any inconvenience. Bendigo Bank is proud of its regional heritage and operates Australia's second largest regional branch network," a spokesperson said.
"To preserve our ability to continue delivering for our customers and communities, we must ensure our branches are adequately supported and resourced."
Bendigo Bank said a range of banking options remain available to affected customers, confirming there is "no impact to how their accounts operate".
"Customers can continue to transact as normal at any Bendigo Bank branch, ATM or at any time via internet banking, our mobile app or by phone on 1300 236 344," the bank said.
The bank said the nearest Australia Post Office for Bank@Post services is located at 32 Orr Street, next door to the closing Queenstown branch.
"Bendigo Bank maintains more branches per customer than any other Australian Bank," a spokesperson said.
"The Bank is committed to its branch network and the personalised interactions that occur in branch every day."