Banking centre to get down to business

WESTPAC will open a $750,000 business banking centre in Dandenong as a further sign of confidence that the region’s commercial and industrial growth is strengthening.
The new centre will launch on Tuesday 5 February and is located at 303 Frankston Road, Dandenong South.
Westpac hopes it will service businesses in Casey, Dandenong and Cardinia.
Andrew James, head of Westpac’s Dandenong Business Banking Centre, said the local area had significant growth potential, particularly in industries associated with property, business services and construction and retail.
“Dandenong is within the fastest growing corridor in Victoria, with a projected population growth rate of 26 per cent to 2030,” he said.
“It is widely recognised as Melbourne’s second city because of its size, the diverse range of industry and business opportunities.”
Mr James said he believed the Dandenong region was one of Victoria’s most significant manufacturing hubs and one of the largest retail and commercial centres.
“By opening a specialist Business Banking Centre in Dandenong, Westpac will provide small business operators with local advice to help them develop and grow their businesses,” he said.
“Our focus is on positioning ourselves where businesses need us most – and we believe there’s great opportunity in Dandenong.”
Westpac will place its banking specialists, credit and support teams under one roof at the new centre.
“That means faster decisions by people who know the local area and the issues that impact businesses in the Dandenong area,” Mr James said.
“For customers it means faster turnarounds on loan and credit applications and access to specialist advice.
“In the next few months, we will increase the number of staff working out of Dandenong, allowing our bankers and specialists to spend more time with their customers and enabling more decisions to be made at a local level.”
The new centre at Dandenong is part of Westpac’s national investment in new business banking centres with 12 new centres or major refurbishments nationwide, including another new Business Banking Centre to open in Preston later this year.