A man who played a key role in the history of establishing the community bank model in Australia is headed for Port Fairy.
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The Port Fairy and District Community Bank has appointed Andrew Long as its new branch manager.
Mr Long, who will take up the reigns from next week, comes to the role having spent the last seven years as the Chief Financial Officer for the Melbourne Royal Children's Hospital Foundation.
But it is his time in the banking sector that has the most relevance to his new role in Port Fairy.
Mr Long worked for Bendigo Bank for 15 years, holding a number of key roles along the way.
These included a long stint at Bendigo Bank as company secretary.
He was also a member of the team that sat down 25 years ago and developed the community bank model.
"It was a very exciting time," Mr Long said.
"There had been a community bank model in the US but we developed this one for our regional areas.
"The major banks were turning away from the regions so there was a gap there. The point of difference was the community involvement and support.
"It has turned out to be highly successful because the communities get behind the model and the profits go back into the community."
The Port Fairy and District Community Bank began operation in 2014, with the community pledging $40 million to get the bank off the ground. The inaugural manger of the bank was Ashley King, who is now the bank's company secretary
Mr King held the role for four years before handing over to Julia O'Neill, who was in the top job from 2018 to September this year.
Mr Long said he was looking forward to building on the work of his predecessors.
"The bank is in a strong position and we want that to continue," Mr Long said.
"Community banks are not just call centres, customer service is our edge and I will be actively out in the community talking to our customers, this job is about much more than sitting behind a desk."
