CLUBS and organisations fear they will be forced to head to bigger towns to collect cash needed to run events after the Bendigo Bank announced its dwindling agency network would be axed in October.
Boort and Wedderburn will lose their last banking services in the shutdown.
For Boort agency owner, local pharmacist Daniel Snyder, it’s a double blow. His has also operated the Wycheproof agency.
Members of more than a dozen Boort organisations were outside the Godfrey Street agency on Monday to express disappointment with the bank’s decision.
Alister McDougal said: “Many groups switched to the Bendigo after Commonwealth and NAB closed their branches here.
“Whether it’s the show, the tennis tournament or other events in town, we’re not sure that the post office alternative suggested by the Bendigo Bank will be able to meet what we need,” he said.
“Post office agencies have limits and we can’t see that working for us. We’ll have to go to Bendigo or Kerang now ... and it’s a concern for businesses who do regular banking too.” Mr McDougal said that when he first came to Boort 30 years ago, there were three banks.
“The manager, the staff and their families were part of the community - they played golf or football, were part of the agricultural and pastoral society, in service clubs like Apex and Amity.
“Country towns have lost that financial and social capital. The Bendigo Bank agency closure is a real blow.”
Mallee MP Anne Webster said: “I am very disappointed that four of the 28 Bendigo Bank agency closures are occurring in Mallee- Wycheproof, Wedderburn, Boort and St Arnaud.  
“The Nationals fought for and secured a Senate inquiry into regional bank closures which successfully pressured the big four banks to put moratoriums on further regional bank closures extending into mid-2026 or mid-2027. Bendigo Bank were not parties to that moratorium and I respect these are agency not branch closures.  Nonetheless, Wycheproof, Wedderburn, Boort and St Arnaud residents will lose a service.