By KATH GANNAWAY
WOORI Yallock Community Bank celebrated a decade of banking and investment in their local community last week.
The celebrations started on Thursday, 16 September, a year to the day when the community-owned Bendigo Bank branch opened its doors, and continued on Saturday with a community street party.
WYDCOM board chairman Rick Shaw said the bank had contributed more than $1 million in sponsorship and dividends to shareholders since opening, and had helped Woori Yallock grow.
It was a special celebration for those who were involved from the start including manager Rick Tolsher and customer service officer Linda Farnan who have been the front-line faces representing the branch, and for Mr Shaw and treasurer Lisa Kennedy who along with other board members have keep the operation running at a company level.
On the contribution made by the bank Ms Farnan said she believed one of the biggest positives had been the revitalisation of Woori Yallock commercial centre.
“Bringing banking services to Woori Yallock has been vital,” she said on Thursday. “The centre has flourished since we have been here.”
“You would never have thought when we opened our doors that there was $90 million worth of banking in this area, but that’s where we are now, well above what we forecast,” he said.
One of the major sponsorship beneficiaries over the years has been the Woori Yallock Primary School and the principal and students were among those who called in at the bank on Thursday and Saturday to congratulate the board and the staff who have helped make it all happen.
