The Bank of Queensland is launching a major push into Western Australia, starting with the opening of a branch in Subiaco on April 26.
Another is expected within two months and there are long-term plans for at least eight more.
And BOQ managing director David Liddy has confirmed plans are under way to add a business banking team over the next couple of months.
Founded 132 years ago, the BOQ began an aggressive expansion program four years ago and plans to have 75 new branches outside its home state by August this year. It already has 190 branches across Australia.
BOQ’s push into WA will be supported by its existing debtor finance and equipment finance operations in West Perth, the probable home to the new business banking team, and a network of more than 150 ATMs in the state.
Subiaco will be a BOQ owner-managed branch, which means that a local manager will provide the full range of products and services accessible at all the major banks.
The Subiaco branch, at Crossways Shopping Centre on the corner of Rokeby and Bagot roads, will be owned and managed by Tania Watton, who has been in the banking industry for more than 22 years.
Ms Watton transferred to Perth in 1994 and played a major role in establishing the St George Bank here.
She told WA Business News WA’s dynamic economic growth and current boom was the ideal climate for BOQ to enter the local market.
“Coming from a recent private banking environment, I’m really looking forward to a return to traditional customer focused banking under which our clients will be able to deal directly with me,” Ms Watton said.
The bank’s owner-managed branch model includes everything from small cheque and savings accounts through to home loans and commercial transactions, with the BOQ controlling brand, credit policy and procedures.