Barwon Heads, Thursday, 19 August 2010:

The time is right now for Community Bank^® supporters to take part in the Barwon Heads feasibility study.

Thousands of survey forms are circulating within the community, asking people to indicate the level of banking business they would be prepared to bring across to a Community Bank^® branch.

Chairman Heather McCarthy said surveys must be returned to the independent consultant by 10 September 2010.

“The consultant has had a strong response from people taking the time to complete and return survey forms,” Mrs McCarthy said.

“I can’t stress how important it is for people to take part in this stage of our campaign, regardless of the level of business they would be prepared to bring across to a Community Bank^® branch.

“We have no doubt that we have the community spirit to make this work.

“But we also need proof that it will be a commercially viable venture and that is where the importance of the study comes in.”

Once the data has been collected, the consultant will run the figures through Bendigo Bank’s Community Bank^® financial model.

The aggregate figures will be presented to the steering committee and Bendigo Bank and it is from these figures that the committee will prepare a business plan.

All going to plan, the committee hopes to make a decision on the commercial viability of this project in October.

“The message to anyone who is interested in seeing the establishment of a Community Bank^® branch is to return your survey form as soon as possible,” Heather said.

“Don’t rely on others to do the work for you, this is a community venture and we want to be able to see that our whole community is backing this campaign.”

For more information talk to Heather (at Peppercorn Foods) on 5254 2602.

See what a community bank can do for a local community  (short video)  Henty

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