March 30th, 2022A bank with a heart

In the 10 years since the Community Bank Daylesford District opened its doors on Vincent Street, it has contributed more than $500,000 in community funding.
From sporting clubs, arts and culture clubs, medical and health suppliers to historical groups and local charities, the bank has allowed groups to continue operating over that time and especially in more recent years when Covid completely stopped the ability to fundraise.
Branch manager Melanie Tudball said giving back to the community is the most rewarding part of her role.

“I’ve been a volunteer most of my life and I know how hard it is for local groups to survive financially so it really is the best part of my job seeing how our day-to-day work serving customers allows funds to go straight back into the community.
“We actually get to see where the money goes: whether it’s new facilities at a club, new equipment for emergency services or supporting arts and culture groups like Sprout!, ChillOut, the Museum or Friends of Cornish Hill, we meet the people and see the difference the contributions make.”
While still referred to by many as the Bendigo Bank, the Community Bank Daylesford District is one of a number of branches across the country that grew from the first Bendigo Bank Community branches in the late 1990s.
There are now more than 300 community banks across the country and closer to home there are branches across the Hepburn, Macedon and Goldfields areas. Local branches are franchises of the Bendigo Bank and the branches are owned and operated by local people.
“Because the branches are owned by local shareholders and all decisions made by volunteer board members in those communities, the branches are different from the major banks. It’s the local involvement that allows us to keep giving back to the community,” Melanie said.
Link: www.facebook.com/communitybankdaylesforddistrict