Just as we've seen other banks come and go, this would be purely a financial decision, i.e. they're not making enough money.

In these times of greed it was good to see Bendigo Bank open an agency in Kendall. Although not open every day nor all day, the few hours allocated per week, are a boon to the area.

After we lost the ANZ in Kendall, people had to make alternative arrangements to transact their financial business in Laurieton or further. My bank in Laurieton closed down, so I was forced to go to Wauchope. Then that branch was closed. So now it's Port Macquarie, and like most people, I dread having to go to Port.

It was a Godsend to have Bendigo Bank show confidence in the area, when they opened an agency in the Kendall Community Centre, but alas, I'm informed their operating hours are to be drastically reduced.

It's time for us to show our support for Bendigo, before it goes the way of the Dodo.

If 20 per cent of the Kendall population opened a bank account, and a substantial amount of the Laurieton population did likewise, we could be assured of the future.

C'mon Laurieton people, travel to Kendall, the town where the people make things happen (I'm told they want to lend for housing). You will discover the world is a lot bigger than Deauville to Port and Pacific Ocean to Pacific Highway.

Think of this. If we keep losing our financial institutions, people will have to travel to Port Macquarie to transact their business. Imagine the impost on everyone's time, and for pensioners who will have to rely on public transport, it will become a full day of travel just to withdraw their housekeeping money.

Russ Grigg

Lorne