Bendigo Bank's Exit Leaves Small-Town Heartbreaking Goodbye in Clunes
It’s not just the closure of a bank agency—it’s the unraveling of a community hub, a local anchor, and a lifeline for the people of Clunes. When I say this news has shaken a small Victorian town to its core, I’m not being dramatic. Clunes NewsXpress, run by Craig and Cynthia Drewer, isn’t just a place to buy your lotto ticket or morning paper. It’s a place where locals are known by name, where someone checks on you if you haven’t stopped by in a while, and where change for fundraisers or bill payments is handed over with a smile and a conversation.
Now, all of that is about to vanish—because of a decision made far away, behind corporate doors.
Bendigo Bank has abruptly announced the end of its agency network, including the one based inside the Clunes newsagency. This agency wasn't just an add-on; it was essential. It generated about $40,000 annually for the Drewers—enough to keep the doors open in a tough, small-town economy. With that income disappearing by October 21st, the newsagency is no longer viable. The ATM? Gone. The only local banking access point for cash services? Gone. The support for community groups who rely on that service to handle funds for events? Gone too.
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The justification? "Evolving customer preferences" and increasing costs. That’s the line from Bendigo Bank. But ask Mr. Drewer, and he’ll tell you something else. His customers—many elderly, many without access to or trust in digital banking—still rely on face-to-face service. They use passbooks. They bring in cash. They deposit into accounts for local footy clubs, the fire brigade, or community events. That can't be replaced by a trip to Australia Post or a 25-minute drive to Creswick. And for some, those alternatives simply aren’t accessible.
The heartbreak is real. Craig and Cynthia didn’t just run a business—they ran a community outpost. A place where news was shared, help was offered, and support was given freely. They've weathered so much already: an attempted ATM robbery, the struggles of COVID-19, economic uncertainty. And through it all, they’ve stayed resilient—until now.
And the blow isn’t just limited to Clunes. This is part of a broader sweep of closures from Bendigo Bank, affecting communities in places like Queenstown, Condoblin, and Lake Cargelligo. Some of these closures mean the loss of the last bank in town, and the consequences are deep—particularly for rural and elderly populations who are now being forced into digital systems many are not equipped to handle.
The bank says it operates more branches per customer than any other, that it remains committed to the regions. But what about Clunes? What about Craig and Cynthia? What about the people who came to them not just for banking, but for help, for a chat, for connection?
It’s not just the end of a partnership—it’s the end of a chapter in the lives of many. And what’s left behind isn’t just a shuttered storefront. It’s a very real and painful void in the heart of a small town.
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