Bank on village

By Bridget Brady
THE coastal village community celebrated the opening of its first bank branch last week.
About 200 people watched as 98-year-old and Tooradin businessman of 65 years Louis Genoni cut the ribbon to officially open the Tooradin and Coastal Villages Bendigo Bank in Tooradin on Friday.
The opening comes after much hard work from members of the steering committee who campaigned for the branch.
The opening now means residents don’t have to travel to Cranbourne or Pearcedale to visit a branch.
Steering committee president Graham Elso said coastal village residents had waited “forever” for their own branch.
“This is amazing. It has been an exciting and successful ride and a learning curve,” Mr Elso said adding that business had been very positive so far.
“Early indications are, in a word, wonderful.”
Steering committee member Keith Buck said it was important that residents supported the bank because the more people who signed up, the more the community would benefit.
“This is to everybody’s advantage,” Mr Buck said.
“All parts of the community will benefit from the profits so the more you put in to Bendigo Bank the more you get out.”
Bendigo Bank chief general manager of retail and distribution Russell Jenkins said community banks were an amazing achievement because it required the community to pledge money to support a bank branch.
“This is a stunning testament to these communities,” Mr Jenkins said. Chairman of Community Services Victoria Max Papley also urged the community to support the bank.
“There is no point having the bank there if no one transfers their accounts,” Mr Papley said.
“I urge you to bring your business across as soon as you can,”he said.