28 February 2011
Continuing its growth and development in the southern New South Wales and northern Victoria region, specialist agricultural lender Rabobank has opened a new branch in the border town of Albury.
Located at 565 Olive Street in the business hub of town, the new premises will service the New South Wales and Victorian border farming areas. Rabobank regional manager for southern NSW Michael White says the opening of the new premises in Albury demonstrates Rabobank’s recognition of the strong agricultural production in the region and is a clear signal of the bank’s long term commitment to the area.
“This region is a diverse agricultural area with dairy, cropping, sheep, wool, beef and horticultural producers. As a specialist agricultural bank we’re looking to better assist our clients by now being local to their area,” Mr White says.
“In line with Rabobank standards, we have employed high quality people with specialist knowledge in both finance and agriculture. We look forward to their development of the branch and the existing client base in the area – I feel certain they’ll work closely with the local community and the Albury-Wodonga region.”
“In keeping with Rabobank’s commitment to high service delivery standards, the new Albury branch is staffed by a highly capable team – branch manager Peter Evans, a long-term, experienced employee of the bank; rural manager Ivan Liley, a former property valuer from northern Victoria, and finance officer Melanie Graham who has experience in both banking and accounting.”
Appointed to develop the Albury branch and support new and existing Rabobank clients in the region, branch manager Peter Evans formerly managed the bank’s Esperance branch in Western Australia for six years. With more than 20 years’ experience in the banking industry, Mr Evans has an impressive agri-finance background and extensive knowledge in general broad acre cropping and livestock farming.
Mr Evans says he is embracing the new opportunities that will come with establishing Rabobank’s presence in the Albury area.
“Moving to Albury allows us to draw on my previous experience and apply this in a different area of agriculture that incorporates a diverse and dynamic region. Equally exciting is the opportunity to be a part of a growth phase for Rabobank in the region,” he says.
“The first priority is meeting and understanding existing clients and their businesses, and working to enhance and promote the current work Rabobank has been undertaking in the region.
“Now we’re local, the branch in Albury will better service our clients in the area and help us to understand the agri-financing needs unique to this particular region. In turn this will allow us to incorporate fully what Rabobank can offer to meet those challenges and needs.”
Mr Evans has recently moved to Albury with his wife and two daughters who have started school in town. Having settled in the area, he has already signed up to the local cricket club and looks forward to being an active member of the community.
Michael White said the opening of the Albury branch further expanded on Rabobank’s strong presence in southern NSW which includes branches in Wagga Wagga, Goulburn, Forbes, Griffith, and also in northern Victoria including Shepparton.
The world’s leading food and agribusiness bank, Rabobank started life as a cooperative formed by Dutch farmers more than 110 years ago to finance other farming enterprises. Still structured as a cooperative, it now operates in 48 countries.
For more information please contact Rabobank’s Albury branch on (02) 6042 1603 or visit www.rabobank.com.
Rabobank Australia & New Zealand is a part of the international Rabobank Group, the world’s leading specialist in food and agribusiness banking. Rabobank has more than 110 years’ experience providing customised banking and finance solutions to businesses involved in all aspects of food and agribusiness. Rabobank is structured as a cooperative and operates in 48 countries, servicing the needs of more than nine million clients worldwide through a network of more than 1600 offices and branches. Rabobank Australia & New Zealand is one of the region’s leading rural lenders and a significant provider of business and corporate banking and financial services to the food and agribusiness sector. The bank has 83 branches throughout Australia & New Zealand.
Media contacts:
Denise Shaw
Public Relations Manager
Rabobank Australia & New Zealand
Phone: +61 2 8115 2744 or +61 439 603 525
Email: denise.shaw@rabobank.com
Jess Martin
Public Relations Specialist
Rabobank Australia & New Zealand
Phone: +61 2 8115 4861
Email: jess.martin@rabobank.com