Late rush opens bank

By Kath Gannaway
AN eleventh hour flood of investment has ensured Healesville will have a community-owned bank in 2011.
Healesville & District Community Enterprise Ltd chairman Gary Slater thanked the community last week for backing the project, which will see Healesville Community Bank Branch of Bendigo Bank open in January.
Mr Slater said the minimum share capital of $790,000 was raised in the 12 weeks since the prospectus was launched on 19 August.
“To have reached this point in just over a year since we started the campaign is very exciting,” Mr Slater said.
“We had a flood of funds in the last few days with a lot of people keen not to miss out on becoming shareholders.
“Having reached our minimum, we are now able to extend the share offer for a couple of months until we reach our maximum share capital, which is another $200,000,” he said.
“We are already halfway there, so we are really encouraging people to get in very quickly if they want to be part of what is an exciting community venture for Healesville.”
Mr Slater said work on the bank site in the main street was progressing at a great rate and they were advertising for a manager and staff.
Jacqui Hall, community bank mentor to the Healesville committee, congratulated the steering group on what she said was “a fantastically run campaign”, and the Healesville community for getting behind the project.
Ms Hall chaired the steering committee for the Yarra Junction Community Bank Branch of Bendigo Bank and is on the board of the Upper Yarra Community Enterprise, which runs the Warburton and Yarra Junction community banks.
“The rewards for you will be self-determination in making your town thrive and prosper in a way never seen before in Healesville,” she said.