Bendigo Bank Mount Gambier Branch Manager Tracy Koop said farewell to her position at the bank last week after 13 years of leading the branch and 28 years of being involved with the organisation.
When Ms Koop made the switch to community banking 13 years ago, the rest was history.
She said her role was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and it felt surreal she was leaving.
Ms Koop will be spending more time with her family and said she would love someone else to have the opportunity to move the branch into the future.
“I feel very fortunate for the past 13 years; I have met some wonderful people and I have had wonderful opportunities, so I will forever be grateful for that” she said.
The Mount Gambier Community Bank has been involved with many local groups over the years. They are major sponsors of the Western Border Football League, Foodbank School Breakfast Program and WIN TV Golf Days.
They have been involved with the District Health Advisory Council, Prostate Cancer Group, SA Rostrum, donated $50K to the RFDS transport facility at the airport and staff are involved with volunteering at the Red Cross Telecross each month.
The bank has also provided long-standing support to Mount Gambier New Year’s Eve celebrations, the Port MacDonnell Bayside Festival, Sunset Community Kitchen and various defibrillators in the region. But these are just the tip of the iceberg, as the Community Bank has given back over $1m to the local district.
“We are very fortunate in Mount Gambier there are so many people involved in different community groups, I have met some wonderful and dedicated people because of this,” Ms Koop said.
“There is never a project too big or too small for consideration.”
Ms Koop said she was fortunate to have had the most supportive and wonderful team.
“They will continue to grow the business and do their very best for customers and I have no doubt that it will continue to grow from strength to strength,” she said.
“A big thank you to the board, the staff and the people of Mount Gambier for all of the support they have shown toward me and my branch, I always will be thankful to have been given that opportunity.”
