Michelle Slater
The Latrobe Valley is copping another banking blow with the removal of the Bendigo Bank ATM in Yinnar.
Bendigo customers were notified with a letter stating that the service is being taken out of town on Wednesday this week.
A Bendigo spokesperson said the decision had been made by the Mirboo North and district community bank board in early February.
“This was due to the expiry of the lease and a steady decline in cash transactions over the past several years due to changing customer behaviour and preferences,” the spokesperson said.
“Bendigo and Adelaide Bank have agreed to this decision.”
Bendigo is advising its customers they can withdraw cash from the adjacent Australia Post in the main street of Yinnar, and an ATM is still available in Mirboo North.
The removal follows the recent loss of major banks in Morwell, including the closure of the town’s Bendigo, Commonwealth, ANZ and Bank Australia branches.
Yinnar and District Community Association secretary Kev Young said he hoped the service could be replaced with a third party ATM to cater to the town and outlying region.
“We lost a lot of other banking services in the Valley but this one tops it off. It was a valuable service to Yinnar and it’s disappointing if it’s not replaced,” Mr Young said.
“It’s disheartening but understandable if they see it as being non-viable. With all the events and passing tourists it’s handy for people coming into town.”
However, Mr Young also pointed to the community support Bendigo had provided to the region through its community grants programs.
Member for Morwell Russell Northe said the community had fought hard to secure the ATM.
“Yinnar is a growing community and one would have thought that it is imperative to maintain banking and financial transaction options in the town rather than reduce them,” Mr Northe said.
“Unfortunately the removal of banking services in the Latrobe Valley has not been a unique experience in recent times with Morwell suffering from the loss of multiple services.
“It’s disappointing that many banks have seen fit to take away options for many of its own customers in regional communities.”
