Skip to main content
Financial Assistance Hub

Victorian floods: on the ground

Victorian floods: on the ground

24 November 2022

The ABA recently visited regional Victoria to see the impact of the recent floods first-hand.

The tour of Rochester and Echuca was set up to share the support available by banks and encourage customers affected to contact their bank.
The ABA also gathered feedback from impacted bank customers and the local community to hear what further help banks can offer to assist people to get back on their feet.
ABA team members unofficially attended a town hall meeting held by the Insurance Council of Australia as observers.
They also visited businesses damaged by the floods, including local bank branches, and provided information to on-the-ground financial counsellors and governmental emergency agencies so they could best support those affected.

After the floods: images of Echuca and Rochester

  • Bendigo Bank, Rochester Branch, after flooding.
  • Inundated wharves of the Echuca Paddlesteamers on the Murray River
  • Kendall Beattie, Regional Manager, Bendigo Bank, James Pietromonaco, Manager, Bendigo Bank (Rochester) and Ellen Choulman, Director Business Engagement and Policy ABA.
  • Sandbagged house in Echuca
  • Street in Echuca
  • Andrew Hall, CEO of the Insurance Council of Australia, speaking at the town hall meeting in Rochester
  • Bendigo Bank, Rochester Branch, after flooding.
  • Inundated wharves of the Echuca Paddlesteamers on the Murray River
  • Kendall Beattie, Regional Manager, Bendigo Bank, James Pietromonaco, Manager, Bendigo Bank (Rochester) and Ellen Choulman, Director Business Engagement and Policy ABA.
  • Sandbagged house in Echuca
  • Street in Echuca
  • Andrew Hall, CEO of the Insurance Council of Australia, speaking at the town hall meeting in Rochester

Banks are here to support you: don’t tough it out on your own


Latest news

1 / 3
Transcript
Anna Bligh interview with ABC Perth on credit card access
1 August 2025

EO&E Nadia: Banks has been a big topic of discussion on the show this week because, of course, we’ve just been talking about behavioural security that the bank is bringing in. Earlier, I was telling you during the week that older women can’t get a credit card in their own name. They’re secondary card holders… Read more »

Read more
Media Releases
Joint Group of Industry Organisations statement in response to Productivity Commission report
1 August 2025

The Productivity Commission proposal to tax business cash flow is an experimental change that hasn’t been tried anywhere else in the world. This tax increase risks putting more pressure on all Australians still struggling under cost-of-living pressures. While some businesses may benefit under this proposal, it risks all Australian consumers and businesses paying more for… Read more »

Read more
Media Releases
Banks welcome APRA commitments to support more competition in Australia’s banking system
24 July 2025

The ABA welcomes APRA’s commitment to boosting competition for Australia’s mid-tier and international banks. In a speech today to the ABA’s Banking 2025 Conference, Chair John Lonsdale announced that APRA would: ABA CEO Anna Bligh said it was customers who would ultimately benefit from a strong and competitive banking system. “Today’s announcements from APRA will… Read more »

Read more