Bendigo Bank Avis 127

I opened a debit card account online with a balance of $100. My intent at the time was to change banks, lucky for me that never happened. Over a period of 10mths my balance went down to $0 due to fees. I did not use the account, ever. Not once.
I then proceeded down the long and frustrating path of closing the account. The central number 1300-236-344 is a total scam. I regularly called the number, waited for an hour before they disconnected me. There is NO human on this line, full stop. I then called a branch and was told I need to come into a branch personally to close my account. The closest branch was miles away and would take considerable effort to get there. I am so disgusted with Bendigo Bank's lack of empathy for it's users. DO NOT USE BENDIGO BANK.

So I stood in line for 25 minutes to deposit some funds at the local Bundaberg branch. Only one teller working & she was a trainee. She was held up with another customer with heaps of paperwork.
There were two other employees who sort of swanned around going in & out of offices etc but not acknowledging the line up of customers...not even a nod.
When I finally was served I casually mentioned the hold up only to met with a shrug & a thousand yard stare. Guess we're just the dopey customers paying their salaries. You'd think they'd have a deposit atm... nope, no such luck.
Bendigo used to a happy go lucky place but now it's all bushranger beards, badly done tattoos & bugger all customer service.

None of their customer service phone number works, no call back feature, no one answers their emails. Very poor customer service. I have tried calling 4 days straight and on the phone at least 30mins each day.. no answer at all.

My wife and I opened a savings account with Bendigo Bank. We put twenty eight thousand dollars of our savings into it. Then we made a payment based on what the account manager at Bendigo Bank suggested. After that Bendigo Bank froze our account without talking to us or giving us an explanation.
We tried calling Bendigo Bank for days. They said the account was marked for some activity. It did not make sense because we only did what the team at Bendigo Bank told us to do. We gave Bendigo Bank every document they asked for: identification, proof of where we live, bank statements and pictures of our conversations with the team at Bendigo Bank. They said they would look into it within two days.
That was three weeks ago. Since then we have spent hours on hold. Been cut off during calls more than ten times and got no calls or emails back from Bendigo Bank. Our money is stuck with Bendigo Bank. The stress has been really tough on us. We could not do anything. My wife and I argued a lot at home. We feel bad for trusting Bendigo Bank. Losing twenty eight thousand dollars has hurt us a lot financially and emotionally.
Bendigo Bank has been the bank we have dealt with.
After weeks of feeling down my wife. I contacted Poma Advisory. They looked into our problem with Bendigo Bank carefully. With a lot of effort Poma Advisory helped us get a part of our money back from Bendigo Bank. We are really grateful to Poma Advisory. If you have also had problems with Bendigo Bank do not wait. Contact Poma Advisory away.
Do not trust Bendigo Bank. Bendigo Bank will freeze your accounts ignore you and take your money. Stay away, from Bendigo Bank.

I have been a faithful and loyal customer of Bendigo Bank since I was a child (mum signed me up originally) and I loved the community feel and genuine customer service back in the day, but the experience I had today has fully put me off and I will be looking to change banks for the first time ever (am now 35).
After calling the 1300 number because I recently transitioned to a new phone and apparently had too many Bendigo apps across my devices (leading to me not being able to do the authentication process and access my accounts at ALL), I was told the queue was long and to opt for a call back which I did. I was then waiting for at least an hour before I got a call back, only to find I had been put back on hold. But hang on, you called me?! After 5 mins waiting on hold, a lady answered and I had to do all the standard verification and identity questions which was fine and I ticked those off, but I was then asked to confirm a recent transaction and the exact amount, date etc. Problem was, I couldn't access my account online or via an app and had to rely on my memory which was vague and apparently not good enough for them. Instead of considering another way to verify that I am actually the account owner, they said that I had failed their process and had to go to a branch instead. I told them I can't access any transactions because I don't have the ability to authenticate my log in and I said do they consider that? And all she could say was that I would have to go to a branch. It was today (a Saturday) and branches don't open until Monday. So they have left me high and dry with ZERO care in the world. What if I was in a crisis situation? Why don't they have other back up verification processes before denying you access? They have completely denied my access to my accounts for the weekend, and I don't think it is right or good enough. Very frustrated and disappointed to say the least.
The system has been developed to reduce scammers, but it is not designed to support the ACTUAL customers. The customer service rep was cold and pretty robotic too. Not good enough Bendigo...

Unresponsive and untrustworthy

Waiting on hold for 1hr plus to speak with a consultant.

Bendigo Bank does not deserve any awards for customer service, their hold wait time made me want to use a cheese grater on my knees. Over an hour on hold for an e-banking query wasted my time and i should be compensated for that waste, please hire enough staff to reflect the demand on service, you are a large company not a small fish and chip shop! It is simply not good enough (wish I could give them zero stars)

Accounts were transferred by Bendigo from Adelaide bank. However the transfer was badly handled, important details like tfn were not transferred and we have lost a lot of money. A terrible experience, the customer service was appalling. I wish I had read all the bad the reviews first so I could have avoided them.

We had a small Mortgage $100k for 12 months and the experience is awful, rude staff when you finally get to talk someone. Trying to discharge mortgage from Title what a nightmare, after sending numerous messages/emails and No reply on the phone again, been on hold 20 minutes no sign off being answered.

On the 24th July, 2025 I was reappointed Enduring Power of Attorney by a close family member who unfortunately had to be placed in a Nursing Home due to the onset of Dementia and their inability to look after themselves.

I was enduring Power of Attorney with his wife for many years but it ceased to be upon the death of his wife as we were joint Power of Attorney’s and our Power of Attorney is no longer valid and therefore requiring a new Power of Attorney.

As the family member due to their Dementia is now incapable by Law of appointing a new Power of Attorney this task was carried out by the appropriate Government authority during a tribunal whereby all effective parties were involved I was reappointed Power of Attorney.

My initial contact with the Bendigo Bank with regard to the control of the family member’s bank account in August, 2025 so I could ensure continue payment to the Nursing Home would not be interrupted and there were sufficient funds in this account. As I already have control of his other Bank Account this would enable me to transfer the required funds into the Bendigo Bank Account for the Nursing Home to draw on as required.

It became apparent very early by discussions with the Bank that their acceptance of my Enduring Power of Attorney is going to become an issue so I began with a verbal complaint in early September, 2025 followed by a written complaint in early December, 2025. After considering the length of time that had passed and the inaction of the Bank to make any attempt in resolving the situation accept for the fact of by notifying me that I lived in another State.

As the Bendigo Bank is an Australian wide Bank and my investigations concluded that my residential address could not and should not impede on the recognition of my ability to act as Power of Attorney.

To date the Banks only correspondence with me is to inform me that I live in another State and to advise that they are in the process of addressing my complaint. On three occasions there is a different case reference number possibly indicating there has been three independent case managers. Their last correspondence was in early February, 2026 advising they have received my complaint in February, 2026 whereas the written complaint was in fact received by the Bank in early December, 2025

To date I have received no valid explanation as to why my Power of Attorney is not accepted (I had no problem with another bank). I do not know what the problem is nor have I been advised why there are lengthy delays in resolving this issue.

I am now in a position whereby I am responsible for the family member’s wellbeing and future financial security and I have no way of knowing who is drawing from this account and the amount of this account even though by law I am the responsible person.
He also has a Credit Card which has no outstanding money on it and I need to cancel it as the Bank has charged him $60 for having it

Given the delays and lack of information as to why my Power of Attorney is not accepted I am left with no option to draft up a letter to the Australian Financial Complaints and address it to every Government Department and Agencies and eventually the Media.

Absolutely love the Bendigo Bank Seddon branch. I have tried all the big 4 banks and the service is terrible, and then I found Bendigo Seddon branch who know me and are so efficient and friendly.

If your looking for a bank that you can contact and talk to absolutely MOVE on minimum of an hour just to speak to someone all the time.

On hold for 45 mins.... I'm a loyal customer... Well was!!!

Customer service is a joke.

Lift your game or loose customers

I used to be a huge advocate of Bendigo Bank You know when it was built by communities funding their branches!! I am so fed up Twice now I have tried to contact the 1300 number for help to access my online account. As I can not log in via my laptop all of a sudden since I activated my mobile app. (ARRGH BAD Decision that was). I need to pay bills and check if money has come in ASAP. Today 11/02/26 I phoned to speak to someone at Bendigo. Previously I waited to speak to someone(three days ago) and it was ages, so today I made the choice to get a call back. that was at 13:21 it is now15:26 and I still have not had a call back. I am now again on the phone(yet again having been told they are so busy), I chose to wait rather than have a call back. THIS IS DISGRACEFUL WAY TO TREAT YOUR CUSTOMERS as if my time is any fecking less important than your obviously under staffed call centre! I tried my branch who are awesome but they can not help me so I have no option but to wait and wait and wait WTF love being angry frustrated waiting all the while listening to this debacle of customer service expounding their awesome services. How most trusted by farmers and NO 1 Legendary customer service in some awards for 2025. WHAT A JOKE seems to have stopped! What a disgrace that the CEO and MANAGEMENT have fully lost the plot! I will be removing the app of my phone as its a nightmare.
I had been on the phone over 30 mins the second call when finally I had the call back(I know its not the employees fault poor people they must be coping so much frustration and anger! bad management), HOWEVER imagine after waiting almost 3 hours for the call back and they do you are placed on HOLD!!! for five minutes! SERIOUSLY I was not happy.
So the person was lovely seems my password is no longer valid on my computer. I attempted to say I could not log in with the mobile password on my laptop either. In the end basically I gave up.
A phone call a while later after I had been attempting to create a new password on my laptop having deleted the app, only to be told I NEEDED TO CREATE THE NEW PASSWORD ON THE MOBILE APP!! ARRGH and of course other option to ring the number back or go to branch.. (which by now had closed) I get this phone call from the person I had been speaking too, she rang me addressed me by name and then told me I needed to provide ALL my security questions again you know dob, address, bra size. I think its about 6 or questions. I being rather fed up say NO you rang me you, You accepted it is me, and YOU were the person who verified it was me and my details were OK! ( I know and when not fed up and rational understand that its needed because the employees can only access the information by following the computer prompts), I was not in any place to go through it all again, and basically after being told if my tone did not change she would hang up on me, (can’t blame her but HEY YOU CALLED ME KNOWING I WAS ALREADY FRUSTRATED BEFORE THE ISSUE HAD BEEN RESOLVED! Having spoken to me previously).
So before I fully lost it and I had not been abusive just loud and frustrated. I hung up. Again I am so sorry for the call centre help staff who must be copping this every day.

The Bendigo Bank app went down - tried to log in and got a blank page, unable to access my accounts, I thought it was a problem with my computer so uninstalled then re-installed their app - still couldn't access my account, spent a total of 1 hour 32 mins waiting for my call to their 1300 no. to be answered to be told they couldn't verify my identity after correctly answering 4 questions: my name, my date of birth, my address and how many accounts I had with them and what type of accounts they were. Rang my local branch and was told they were aware of the blank page problem and they had no idea when it would be fixed. Why has Bendigo Bank not notified their customers of this issue? This is not the only issue I have with this bank but I have signed a "Deed of Forbearance" document that forbids me from detailing my experience as a guarantor for a family member.

Appalling service following the Adelaide Bank/Bendigo Bank merger.
Our mortgage account was transferred from Adelaide Bank to Bendigo Bank and the experience since has been unacceptable. The login details provided to log into their app after the transfer didn’t work so I needed to call for assistance - 1+ hour before I got through. Now, my fixed term is expiring & to re-fix I have to call the bank. Another 1+ hours. Then they need to identity check my mother (who is also on the loan) - she missed the call, so had to call them back (another 1+ hours before she got through). Failed the last question of the identity check as when asked for her address she accidentally provided the mortgaged property address. They refused to go further, so we travelled to a branch (45 minutes). Once completed there, we couldn’t just finalise the documents at the branch - but have to call the bank again to confirm we have completed the verification so they can issue the documents electronically.
I refuse to waste any more time & will be moving my home loan at the end of the fixed term to Horizon Bank (good local bank & offering a better fixed term rate).
Adelaide Bank was so wonderful & easy to deal with, such a shame it morphed into this.

Wish I could give them no stars.
My wife opened an account we transferred cash into it. We then made an online payment and they froze the account without contacting us.
We contacted them they told us the account was suspicious we went through all the info they advised they would review it.
Nearly 2 weeks later and trying to contact them being left on hold or cut off with no return calls we are still trying to get access to her account.
Worst bank we have ever had the misfortune of dealing with.

Dreadful! never got hold of anyone, multiple attempts to contact them to set up my mobile banking which has taken hours and hours of my time..giving up again, still have no access to my mortgage account. This is by far the worst bank I have ever dealt with.

Absolutely unacceptable service following the Adelaide Bank → Bendigo Bank merger.
Accounts were transferred from Adelaide Bank to Bendigo Bank as part of the merger, and the experience since has been nothing short of disastrous.
Call wait times are consistently over 1.5 hours. This was understandable for the first few weeks, but it has now gone on for months. If you choose to merge banks, you have a responsibility to staff appropriately and support customers through the transition. That clearly hasn’t happened.
There have been incorrect payments taken from accounts, cards set up against the wrong accounts, and complete administrative chaos. We previously had one card with Adelaide Bank and were sent three cards by Bendigo Bank due to their own errors. New cards had to be reissued again because they were incorrectly linked.
Today alone, this is the fifth phone call attempting to resolve ongoing issues:
First call: on hold for over an hour, then the call was cut off
Second call: over 1.5 hours on hold, still no one to speak to
This level of service is unacceptable for any financial institution, let alone one handling people’s money. Poor planning, poor execution, and zero regard for customers’ time.
Do better.
Or take this as a warning: take your money elsewhere.