Bendigo Bank Hosts Birthday Celebrations for Harden Murrumburrah

The people of Harden Murrumburrah will celebrate the first birthday of their Community Bank® branch in March 2008. With more than $10.7 million in business and more than 689 accounts open, the Community Bank® model has obviously been welcomed by locals.

(PRWEB) March 13, 2008 -- The people of Harden Murrumburrah (http://www.bendigobank.com/public/community_bank/community_bank.asp?name=harden_murrumburrah) will celebrate the first birthday of their Community Bank (http://www.bendigobank.com.au/public/community_bank/index.asp)® branch in March. With more than $10.7 million in business and more than 689 accounts open, the Community Bank (http://www.bendigobank.com.au/public/Community/index.asp)® model has obviously been welcomed by locals.

And on Saturday, March 15, 2008, the local Board of Directors, branch staff and local supporters will celebrate 12 months of business with a birthday party opposite the branch in Neill Street Harden from 11.00am.

The celebrations will include a morning tea, sausage sizzle, and the cutting and serving of a giant Birthday cake.

Chairman Brendan McKay said the local Board of Directors welcomed the passing of the first year of trading, a year which has been a steep learning curve.

"We thought there was a lot of work to be done to get the branch open," Mr. McKay said. "That workload has not lessened since the doors of the branch opened and local volunteer Directors continue to work hard to ensure our branch's success."

"Having said that, it has been a remarkable year and one in which our expectations of what a Community Bank® branch would bring to our community have been realised," McKay continued. "It has also been a busy 12 months for Branch Manager Ralph Hawkins and his staff, who have opened more than 689 accounts and brought the Bendigo way of banking to the Harden Murrumburrah community.

"It really is great to see the same faces, and many new ones, coming through the door each week to do their banking (http://www.bendigobank.com.au/public/personal/accounts/everyday_accounts.asp)," Mr. Hawkins said.

"We promised people 12 months ago that we would deliver a banking service that the people of Harden Murrumburrah expected, and deserved, and I am confident that we have achieved that goal," Mr. Hawkins continued. "The establishment of our Community Bank® branch really was a community achievement and we would like to share this first year milestone with everyone in the community."

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