Banking Backbone with Bendigo Bank
John Caruso celebrates an institution that is all about people and community connection.
There’s a bank branch that has quietly anchored the community for 21 years, showing up every day with genuine support and a handshake that actually means something. Back in 2002, when big banks began closing their doors on regional towns, Bendigo’s Community Bank model forged a new path for locals.
Sunshine Coast Community Financial Services Ltd stepped up, opening the Cooroy branch and grounding their commitment with branches at Tewantin-Noosa and Marcoola.
The commitment to reinvest 80% of profits back into the community has seen more than $6 million supporting local schools, clubs, grassroots sport, events, and essential services, a promise lived out year after year. The real magic happens beyond the numbers.
There’s the $500,000 housing initiative for victims of domestic and family violence; the support for creative industries as significant supporters of Sunny Coast Showdown, Noosa Open Studios and Noosa Alive. Katie Rose Cottage Hospice received vehicles for palliative outreach, as has Red Frogs for youth safety; surf lifesaving and sporting clubs thrive and Noosa Coast Guard would struggle to stay afloat without significant support from Bendigo Bank.
Noosa FM Community Radio sounds better thanks to upgraded studios; young people find opportunity through Altitude Scholarships, and support spreads to local events that bring the region together, such as the upcoming Imagine event to celebrate its 21st year with Noosa Alive 2025.
Chair Guy Hamilton, puts it plainly: “‘Community’ is not a tagline, it’s why we exist and the passion we bring to work each and every day,” he says.
This commitment is more than a motto; it’s the foundation of every decision made. Locally owned and led, the bank’s profits fuel generational projects and give locals a say in what matters most.
There’s a steady promise to keep providing support and spaces for artists and community thinkers, to host meetings and events where ideas can spark new growth, and to nurture the sense of belonging that can only come from genuine partnership.
That spirit will be centre stage at Imagine where the free and family-friendly line up includes Marshall Hamburger, 2025 Australian Idol winner.
“From the start, Bendigo Bank have just been great people, supportive and always backing the arts,” Marshall says of the Bank’s support. “They made it possible for me to play at Imagine and brought in a real cinematographer for an ad that we shot together. I admire that they trust artists to do what we do best.”
Bendigo Bank’s difference shines not just in numbers, but moments.
Lions volunteers serving up a sausage sizzle at a school fundraiser, a young netballer lacing up shoes thanks to a community grant, an artist hanging canvases in a sunlit boardroom. These scenes are living proof that collective generosity shapes a region’s identity, and every cause, big or small, finds its echo in local conversations: “it wouldn’t happen without Bendigo.”
Step through the Tewantin branch doors and there’s a sense of genuine belonging. The entry hosts local artists and creative business ideas, the boardroom doubles as a venue for community groups to meet, and staff genuinely know the faces and stories of the people who walk through the door.
Those who have been here a while remember the months leading up to opening in 2002, letters were sent, doors knocked, community conversations held in school halls and surf clubs. The original goal, to fill the gap left by the big banks, has evolved into something stronger, making every dollar count for the people who rely on it, whether it’s athletes, volunteers, seniors taking part in seminars, or creative souls painting the next chapter of our story.
Looking forward, Bendigo Bank’s promise is clear, listen first, then invest in lasting partnerships with every sector, from grassroots sport to social enterprise and the creative arts. Supporting community meetings, seminars, exhibitions, all of it builds a sense of shared ownership and trust that can’t be replicated from afar. Decades of hands-on involvement have built a “walk-the-talk” trust, evident in every sponsorship and every genuine smile from the staff.
A thriving region isn’t measured by financial statements but in its connections.
Every milestone celebrated by Bendigo Bank carries the mark of commitment and care. For customers, the branch isn’t just a place to do business; it’s a signpost in Noosa’s ongoing sustainability, a living invitation to connect, dream and build something lasting, one story at a time.
To support the bank that supports its community, drop into your local Bendigo Bank and become part of the solution to a stronger future. We have – for both business and personal banking and are proud to be part of the story. Happy 21st Bendigo!
WANT MORE? Download the interview with Marshall Hamburger from our podcast.
