Adelaide workers expected to bear brunt of Bendigo Bank cuts

A union has revealed that Bendigo and Adelaide Bank is set to eliminate 137 jobs as part of an ongoing restructuring process. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) has learned that these redundancies will primarily affect workers in Adelaide compared to other locations. The bank has not yet finalized these changes.

The union states that these layoffs are part of 299 job alterations across the bank's Consumer Lending Operations and Customer Care divisions. This restructuring initiative commenced in April, coinciding with the bank's partnership with two foreign entities: IT service provider Infosys and AI-focused firm Genpact.

According to the union, approximately 445 positions have been downsized or eliminated through previous restructuring efforts since January 2025. The forthcoming layoffs are believed to have a direct connection to advancements in artificial intelligence, automation, or broader technological shifts.

A spokesperson for the Australian Services Union (ASU) in South Australia and the Northern Territory, Ella Waters, expressed concern over the potential replacement of these workers by AI. While the bank maintains it is making cost efficiencies through these redundancies, Waters remains apprehensive about the impact on hundreds of jobs due to technological advancements.

A Bendigo Bank representative directed inquiries to an April statement announcing its partnerships with Infosys and Genpact. The bank's spokesperson confirmed the ongoing review of its business operations and processes but did not disclose whether AI would replace human workers. The bank stated that it is committed to assisting employees through this period of change, including exploring redeployment opportunities for those whose roles may become obsolete.