Silence and mystery surround Pinewood Bendigo Bank’s permanent branch closure

The branch’s doors closed on September 2, with its fate now sealed.

Author

Matthew Sims
October 17, 2025

Local customers and business owners have been left confused and disrupted by the permanent closure of its Bendigo Bank branch at the Pinewood Shopping Village in Mount Waverley.

⁉️ What happened: According to local business owners, the offices and associated signage of the Pinewood Bendigo Bank were recently gutted.

The branch’s official website has confirmed the news, listing the branch as “permanently closed” and encouraging customers to visit the Glen Waverley branch.

🫤 Confused customers: The Eastern Melburnian understands the doors closed on September 2, with those planning to use the ATM connected to the branch also finding it to be non-operational.

ℹ️ Limited information: In a letter to shareholders on September 9, Pinewood Community Financial Services Limited (PCFSL) chairperson and managing director Robert Davies said the bank was required to “temporarily suspend its operations”.

  • ✍️ “We are currently unable to provide specific details regarding the circumstances surrounding the closure,” Davies said.

  • An undated letter to shareholders then confirmed the franchise agreement between Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Limited and Pinewood Community Financial Services Limited has ended.

  • There has since been no official announcement via Bendigo Bank’s media channels and both the Facebook and Instagram accounts attached to the branch have been deleted.

🔎 All a mystery: Local shopowners said they had no idea as to why the branch closed, causing confusion and disappointment among those who bank there and depend on the foot traffic from customers.

  • The closure will see a major source of financial support for the Monash community dry up, with the branch having donated more than $2 million since opening in 2002 via sponsorships, donations, scholarships and community grants.

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

💬 Waiting for a response: The Eastern Melburnian has reached out to representatives from both Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Limited and PCFSL for comment, with a Bendigo Bank spokesperson only saying it had “no further comment” to provide.