Friday, October 20, will be Ms Benzie’s last day at the Bega branch, which she calls her “second home”. 

The banking staff have decorated the branch with streamers, flowers and balloons and customers flowed in bearing gifts of flowers and champagne to wish Ms Benzie luck in retirement.

“The people in this town are amazing, I’ve been reduced to tears a couple of times today,” Ms Benzie said.

Ms Benzie received a card on Thursday from her long term customers, thanking her for being beside them through so many of their family’s milestones. 

“Not a meeting with our bank manager, but a chat and advice from a friend, trust, comfortable, supported and safe,” the card read.

Helping generations has been the most rewarding aspect of her career. 

“I’ve done accounts and loans for families and then later on I’ve helped their children take the same steps, buying a house or car or taking a holiday,” she said. 

“It is the greatest pleasure to give people the keys to their house.”

Having spent more than half her life at IMB, Ms Benzie has seen banking transform over the years. 

“When I started in 1982 we didn’t even have ATMs, everyone used cheques and we would spend half our day writing everything out by hand,” she said. 

“Now technology has come so far, we’re all online and connecting with customers through mobile phone messaging.”

Bega local Sharon Shepherd will take over the branch manager role. Ms Benzie was glad she could pass over into another pair of local hands.