BENDIGO BANK will scrap its last 26 agencies in October.
Closure of bank services in Wedderburn and Boort was confirmed on Tuesday.
Within hours, there was condemnation of the bank head office decision.
Loddon Shire councillors meeting that afternoon added an urgent item to the published agenda to tell the bank of its disappointment.
The Loddon Herald’s exclusive breaking of the news came after a fortnight of speculation for the future of the bank’s remaining agency network after another round of branch closures.
Bank officials had contacted agencies since mid-July to tell them that the business model would be “retired”.
Randall’s Supermarket in Wedderburn had been the town’s bank since owners Jenny and Leigh Randall were approached to take on the agency 18 years ago.
“We are disappointed ... this will be a huge loss,  a massive loss to the town,” he said.
“The closure will be difficult for elderly and vulnerable people and those unable to drive to banking facilities. Post offices are not a complete alternative.
“People have still been coming and opening accounts. We feel disappointed for them.”
Boort pharmacist Daniel Snyder has hosted the Bendigo Bank agency in all 13 years he has been in the town.
Closure of the agencies - Boort has been linked to Charlton Community Bank and Wedderburn to Inglewood Community Bank - leaves the Inglewood bank as Loddon Shire’s only full banking facility.
Bendigo Bank closed the Pyramid Hill agency two years ago.
Sources have told the Loddon Herald that decisions to close local agencies had been made by bank head office, not local community bank boards.
Business owners in Loddon towns said this week they still needed bank facilities.
“And what about local organisations? Many have put their accounts with Bendigo over the years because the bank was about community, groups that still need to have cash and change for their functions and events,” one said.
Cr Gavan Holt told Loddon Shire meeting the bank’s “retirement” action was “appalling and unbelievably disappointing.”
Councillors backed a motion to tell the bank  that agency closures “will create anxiety and stress to those residents and businesses who still require physical banking services”.
Cr Nick Angelo said closures would mean people would be forced to “talk to a robot”.