Kimberly Dean never imagined a career in the banking industry. Yet, a twist of fate led her to an impressive career full of purpose and opportunity at Bendigo Bank. Since joining us in 2007, Kimberly has progressed through eight - yes, you read that correctly! - positions with our team. And it’s not just career growth she’s experienced. Find out how our Retail Banking Coordinator has found the balance and belonging she needs as a mother and First Nations person.
So much more than a number
Delivering her first acknowledgement of country to the National Retail Banking team was a moment of deep pride for Kimberly Dean. It was also a moment of vulnerability - and great hope.
“All my life, I’ve known I’ve got an Aboriginal background,” says Kimberly, Bendigo Bank’s Retail Banking Coordinator. “It’s only more recently that I’ve opened up the journey to understanding my history.”
Although she was a little apprehensive, Kimberly felt safe to share with the wider team that she herself was a First Nations person.
“I’d never really spoken about it. I was quite nervous, but when I mentioned it, everyone said, ‘Amazing, thank you for sharing - we’d love to learn more.’ After the meeting, people came up to me and asked questions. In that moment, I felt really respected.”
For Kimberly, it reinforced Bendigo Bank’s culture of care and connection, where people are valued for their individuality, perspectives and contributions.
“You’re not just a number; you’re not just an employee. It’s like a family. Of course, like all organisations, there have been culture changes over the years, but everyone actually cares about you. It’s a really supportive place to work.”
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Pairing flexibility with opportunity
Kimberly had been working as a beauty therapist for several years when, unfortunately, she was injured in a car accident. Unable to spend as much time on her feet, she began looking for another role. Her sister-in-law suggested she try Bendigo Bank.
“There was a position as a Customer Service Officer with a local branch, so I handed in my resume, had my interview, and the rest is history! It’s definitely not what I envisioned myself doing, but that was in 2007, and I’m still here. It’s been a rewarding journey.”
Over 17-plus years, Kimberly has seized every opportunity to learn and grow. Impressively, she’s progressed through eight different roles - including Learning and Development Facilitator, Operations Coordinator and State Project Coordinator, to name a few.
Today, Kimberly is our Retail Banking Coordinator, supporting our General Manager of Retail Banking and the wider Retail Banking team.
“My role is similar to that of an executive assistant. We have a lot of connection with internal and external stakeholders, so I’m involved in many areas of the bank. It’s an awesome job with a lot of variety.”
Supporting a team that’s located around Australia has its challenges. Yet, Kimberly is always in close communication with her colleagues and is supported to find the balance and flexibility she needs as a mother of two young girls.
“At the stage of life I’m in right now, I want to have a career and do my job really well, but I also need flexibility to be a mum. I work in a hybrid capacity with a mix of home and office time, which my leader is super supportive of to assist with the important school activities that come up. I also know I’ve got Bendigo Bank’s support with my career growth in the next couple of years as the kids get older and I have a bit more freedom.”
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Making better bigger - for everyone
Working for a purpose-driven organisation aligns perfectly with Kimberly’s community-service mindset. As well as raising a family, she’s vice-president of her daughter’s kindergarten, treasurer on a school council, and secretary for her local church.
Kimberly is also a member of some important cultural initiatives at Bendigo Bank. She’s the Retail Banking team’s representative on our Reconciliation Action Plan committee and a member of our Mob@BEN group for First Nations team members.
“Mob@BEN is about helping our mob within Bendigo Bank to come forward and identify so we can support them. It’s a really safe space. We have a fortnightly catch-up where we have a yarn, create connections and support anyone who might be having issues in their lives.”
For now, Kimberly looks forward to continuing to shape her career and our strong culture of diversity and inclusion - all while supporting Bendigo Bank to make a positive difference in the communities we serve.
“We have done some amazing things with the community banking model. It’s a feel-good bank to work for. We all know people generally don’t like banks, but when you talk about Bendigo Bank, they’re like, ‘Oh yeah, they gave money to my cricket club or my footy club or my kinder.’ It’s awesome to be able to extend on that story.”
