Queenstown residents will gather on Friday afternoon for a funeral of sorts, as Bendigo Bank shuts its West Coast branch – the last physical bank in the region.
The community has organised a “wake” at the Queenstown Golf Club on September 26, the day the Orr Street branch shuts its doors for good.
The invitation describes the closure as “tragically taken 26th September 2025” and notes the “loss of this well known identity leaves behind a devastated West Coast community”.
The closure comes despite months of fierce opposition from locals and politicians.
More than 1,200 people signed a petition urging the bank to stay, while over 50 residents turned out to a public meeting in August with West Coast Mayor Shane Pitt, alongside federal and state MPs.
The Cradle Coast Authority yesterday made a last-ditch appeal to Bendigo and Adelaide Bank CEO Richard Fennell, joined by nine member councils and Federal Member for Braddon Anne Urquhart.
“Residents and businesses on the West Coast deserve access to the same banking services as other Australians,” Cradle Coast Authority CEO Philip Reid said.
“The nearest alternative is a four-hour return trip to Burnie for essential transactions such as opening an account or applying for a loan. That’s simply not practical for many community members.”
The group urged the bank to consider alternatives like shorter trading hours, mobile banking or agency partnerships.
Commonwealth Bank shut Queenstown’s last major branch in 2021. Bendigo’s exit means no walk-in banking facilities remain on the West Coast.
Bendigo Bank says 74% of Queenstown customers are registered for online banking, with only 21% visiting the branch more than once last year.
The Queenstown branch is one of 10 Bendigo Bank locations closing across Australia this week.
