14,000,000 reasons

THERE are 14 million reasons to establish a Bendigo Bank in Lakeside – but its steering committee needs $250,000 more in pledges to make the branch a reality.
The Lakeside Pakenham branch has secured $14 million in banking business and has $500,000 of its $750,000 pledge total to secure a feasibility study for the branch.
Steering committee marketing co-ordinator Bernie Wilson said the branch hoped to achieve that pledge target by 27 April.
“We think that this is a realistic target to aim for, considering that we are already two thirds of the way there.
“Our target was to get $750,000 from 250 pledges and we are already at 180 pledges so we’re aiming for another 70 pledges in the next two months.”
Lakeside Pakenham Community Bendigo Bank chairman David Impey said the $14 million in banking business was the highest amount ever secured by a Community Bendigo Bank branch.
“This is $14 million in home loans, credit cards, personal loans and savings accounts that residents have transferred across to the Lakeside branch from other banks or institutions, or have opened new accounts,” he said.
The steering committee will be celebrating its achievement of $500,000 in pledges with a cocktail evening on Wednesday 11 March at 6.30pm in the Lakeview Room at the Cardinia Cultural Centre.
Anyone interested in making a pledge or finding out more about the bank can visit an information booth outside Coles in Lakeside from 11am to 1pm each Saturday.
There are also stalls at the Cardinia Ranges Farmers Market on the second Saturday of each month or at a barbecue outside Mitre10 Mega on 14 March.
The cocktail evening is open to people who have made a pledge and those who would like to find out more about the community bank model.
For inquiries call Bernie Wilson on 0418 389 213 or David Impey on 0402 631 116.