Bendigo Bank won’t say what it has planned for Pinewood branch

Will the doors at the Bendigo Bank branch in Mount Waverley's Pinewood Shopping Village ever reopen?

Local customers and business owners have been left in the dark for more than a week, and the bank is refusing to address the branch’s future.

“Our great banking options are still available”: The branch closed on September 2. Those who came to do their banking were met with notes suggesting they take their business to the nearby Australia Post Shop, or head to the other Bendigo Bank branch in Glen Waverley. Or the one in Oakleigh. Or use online banking, phone services or the app. Those who went to use the ATM connected to the branch also found it to be non-operational.

Limited information: The Eastern Melburnian contacted Bendigo Bank seeking information on if and when the Pinewood branch would reopen. A Bank spokesperson did not address the questions, instead saying the branch was “closed until further notice".

Closures adding up: Bendigo Bank shut 10 bricks and mortar bank sites nationally in August. Among them were branches in South Melbourne and Geelong.

Local inconvenience: Speaking to the Eastern Melburnian on Friday, Bendigo Bank customer Emmanuel was annoyed to learn the branch was temporarily closed.

“They’re just not interested in helping out people who want to go to the bank,” he said.

“What if you haven’t got a car?”