We don’t live in an economy. We live in communities. And we’d like them to be around for many years to come. That’s why we’re doing our bit for a more sustainable future. At Bendigo Bank, we’re proud of the positive impact our team members are making for today and tomorrow. Here, our people share their thoughts on our ethical and responsible approach to the environment, society and corporate governance to ensure a better future for all.
Q. Bendigo Bank is committed to doing good for customers, community and society. What positive impact do you see Bendigo Bank making?
Justine Minne, Head of Community Banking, Bendigo:
“I go to a lot of different community functions and hear stories about the difference Bendigo Bank has made. Stories about students who had been unable to attend uni due to their circumstances actually qualifying as doctors and teachers with the help of one of our scholarships. I was talking to a doctor recently, and when he found out what I did, he said, ‘I just want to say thank you. Because of you, we’ve been able to get kids and students to come back here to work in the community.’ That really hits the heartstrings.”
Kimberly Dean, Retail Banking Coordinator, Melbourne:
“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.”
Ryley Verley, Agribusiness Relationship Manager, Adelaide:
“When I was growing up, we had two major banks in our hometown. They’ve both since closed. I remember one day our local politician came to town and said, ‘You need to get yourselves a Bendigo Bank. They will support your town and your community far longer than their competitors.’ I believe that is a really common story for many of our regional areas around the country. Bendigo Bank really does have an excellent reputation and an extensive branch network.”
Q. How is this impact different from what other banks are doing?
Ann Nguyen, Delivery Owner, Gippsland:
“Bendigo Bank provides a nice alternative for people who don't want to go with the big four for various reasons. I know that Bendigo has a very different model. You've got your community branches with a very strong presence out of the regions. One thing I loved about joining Bendigo is you'd see ads for things like tractor finance, and being regional myself, you have a much better understanding and connection to just how important that is for someone on a farm. Whereas it's a smaller part of the puzzle at one of the big four.”
Ryley Verley, Agribusiness Relationship Manager, Adelaide:
“Bendigo Bank remains the better big bank. And I think especially in my role, that's borne out in our connection with customers and just how much time, resourcing and value we place on the relationship.”
Justine Minne, Head of Community Banking, Bendigo:
“From my perspective, because of the way we do things. Community banking allows local decision-making at a grassroots level, so we can make a difference on all levels. We have an impact at a local level, a regional level, a state and national level, so there’s a number of different aspects to our impact, which is something I don’t think others can do like we do.”
Q. How have you seen our values and ethics guide our good governance and culture of inclusion?
Hayley Lister, Project Coordinator, Adelaide:
“When I first presented on our Reconciliation Action Plan, I presented to our Build for Scale team. There were about 100 people on the call. I presented the work we were doing, the work we're looking to do and the progress we're looking to make. I feel like I found a way to present it that wasn't confronting. And from that, we had people ask a lot of questions - people we wouldn't expect to ask questions were really engaged and wanted to know, ‘How do I find out more? How can our team be a positive part of it?’ That was something I'm really proud of because I'm really conscious that it's hard to change people's ways of thinking, especially around race and culture.”
Kimberly Dean, Retail Banking Coordinator, Melbourne:
“Anyone belongs at Bendigo Bank. We're so open to everyone, regardless of your religion, your sex, your culture. The bank is so diverse in supporting everyone and what they need. So for me, it just means you can be yourself at work, which is awesome, and not feel ashamed or worried that you're not going to be accepted in your workplace.”
Q. In what way do you contribute to our positive impact in your role?
Justine Minne, Head of Community Banking, Bendigo:
“In the role I play, I hope we enable decision-making to be really simplified for our director networks. We also provide the tools and support in the background from a retail perspective to make sure our community banks continue to be sustainable, so they thrive, create greater growth and give back in their communities.”
Harry Heath, Customer Advisor, South Australia:
“I actually go between all of the different branches in Adelaide, so I help out when they need that extra bit of help. Whether that means that somebody is just taking a bit of leave, couldn't come into work or a role needs to be filled. I go home at night very proud of the work I do for the bank. You're making a difference, you're making people's financial lives easier. It's very easy to get out of bed in the morning and continue to do it. I love what I do and I find a lot of purpose in it.
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Ryley Verley, Agribusiness Relationship Manager, Adelaide:
“Being a frontline banker at Bendigo Bank, I'm really well connected to the outcomes of my work. I can see directly in front of me the small businesses and the outcomes and the opportunities that we're we're taking grasp of. I'm proud to be involved in agribusiness; I think the nation finds a sense of identity in agribusiness. And I'm really proud to be at the coal face of that. The growth in this sector and this industry in the last three decades has been enormous, and just to watch that firsthand is really something special.”
Q. How could others who join Bendigo Bank contribute to the meaningful difference we make for society, the environment and our organisation?
Justine Minne, Head of Community Banking, Bendigo:
“I think one of the key elements is truly understanding the work we do and the impact that you have wherever you are, whether you’re in risk, whether you’re in finance or whether you’re at the frontline, so you get to touch and feel it a bit more on a daily basis. But I think everyone plays a role in some way, shape or form and I think it’s understanding that and how they contribute is really important.”
