Michelle Slater
Morwell newsagent Ray Burgess has been forced to change banks three times in the past seven months due to branch closures.
Mr Burgess said he “jokingly” asked staff at the Morwell Bendigo Bank branch if there was any risk that the outlet could close before he recently opened an account there.
The Commercial Road business owner had been an ANZ customer for the past 15 years, but switched banks when the neighbouring branch announced its closure last July.
He then moved to the Morwell Commonwealth Bank branch hoping for more surety, but then the CBA announced its plans to shut the Commercial Road branch and relocate to Mid Valley.
“This was no good to me, so I then went to Bendigo as businesses need a bank they can go to for cash and to get change. My banking needs are complex and there are issues with changing banks,” Mr Burgess said.
“Now this has happened it’s very disappointing, it’s very inconvenient not having across the counter banking.”
However, Mr Burgess said he was hoping to rally support for Bendigo to consider opening a community bank in town.
“We shouldn’t give up without a round of discussions. I hope council makes representations to keep it open. I think there are some opportunities for a community bank like in Trafalgar,” he said.
“Is there enough interest for one in Morwell? You’d think a town with 10,000 people that keeps getting short-changed by banks would think this a good idea.”
