Over the past 25 years, major banks have increasingly abandoned regional Australia, leading to severe consequences for local communities. This trend has resulted in service gaps, adversely affecting the local economies and putting them under immense pressure. Between June 2017 and June 2022, over 1600 bank branches were closed, with a disproportionate concentration of closures in regional areas. In recent months, several towns in regional Victoria, New South Wales, and across the country have found themselves without a local bank because of the widespread closure announcements made by the big four banks. These closures have been primarily driven by cost-cutting measures and the growing preference for online banking services. The withdrawal of banking facilities from small regional communities has triggered growing frustration among customers who are concerned about the potential adverse consequences and are actively campaigning to preserve these core services.

Bendigo and Adelaide Bank, known as Bendigo Bank, is an Australian financial institution specialised in retail banking. It was formed in 2007 following the merger of Bendigo Bank and Adelaide Bank. Prior to the merger, Bendigo Bank offered its products and services through nearly 900 outlets across the country. This includes over 160 company-owned branches, 220 community-owned Community Bank branches affiliated with Bendigo Bank, 100 agencies, and 400 Elders outlets. The development of the Bendigo Bank Community Bank model was a response to the wave of bank branch closures in rural Australia during the late 1990s.

In line with the decisions made by major banks, Bendigo Bank, known for its successful regional operation, recently announced its plans to close 16 smaller regional agencies, including those in northern Victoria and southwest New South Wales. The decisions to shut down these branches were driven by a decline in over-the-counter transactions and a shift of customers opting for online banking services. Additionally, Bendigo Bank intends to close certain branches in regional Victoria and New South Wales in order to reduce costs and align with the shifting customer preferences.

Consequently, Bendigo Bank is facing backlash from rural communities in New South Wales and Victoria. These communities feel that the bank, despite being regarded as a community-orientated bank, no longer values their importance.

Given the extent of the public backlash, it can be assumed that Bendigo Bank's management is receptive to reassessing their decision to close agencies and branches in regional Victoria and New South Wales. They are seeking external consultants interested in this project to submit a five-minute consulting pitch video. Bendigo

Bank's top management will shortlist and select consultants based on these videos to address the issue at hand. They are specifically seeking consultants to pitch:

1. (a)Whether the closure of regional agencies and branches is the appropriate course of action for Bendigo Bank, AND
2. (b)If it is determined to be the right decision, the next step is to consider how in-person banking services can still be made available to local communities.