(22 July 2004 – Australia) Bank of Queensland has launched its assault on the southern states, announcing it will open five branches in New South Wales and Victoria by the end of August.The move signals the first part of an expansion plan that will see the Queensland bank open 100 branches in the two states over the next two years.
The first five branches will open in Byron Bay, Kingscliff and North Parramatta In NSW, and Frankston and Bourke Street in the Melbourne CBD in Victoria. The first of these, Byron Bay, will open next Monday.
Bank of Queensland managing director, David Liddy, said the bank was overwhelmed by the amount of interest in its interstate expansion.
“We have received many approaches from bankers wishing to partner Bank of Queensland in owner-managed branches in New South Wales and Victoria,” he said.
Liddy said the bank’s success showed that Australians wanted personal, face-to-face contact when it comes to dealing with their bank.
“Our owner-managed branches mean that bank customers also have continuity as the manager is the branch owner, and are a small business person within their community,” he said.
Bank of Queensland business bankers and dedicated Business Banking Centres would support the branch roll-out to provide customers with face-to-face business banking services and products.
“Independent market research has indicated Bank of Queensland and its truly differentiated level of service will be well accepted by customers in the southern markets,” Liddy said.
“The bank empowers the owner-manager, allowing them to interact more fully with the communities they serve. While the bank tightly controls brand, credit policy and service procedures, owner-managers are incentives to build their own business and manage their local market.
“They can make local decisions based on their local knowledge and maximise the advantages of their local contacts,” Liddy said.