Bank of Melbourne (2011)
The Bank of Melbourne is a financial institution operating in Victoria, Australia. A subsidiary of Westpac, it commenced operations on 25 July 2011. The Bank of Melbourne initially rebadged the Victorian business of St George Bank, another wholly owned subsidiary of Westpac, as part of a major local branding strategy. The customer-facing activities of the business operate independently of Westpac. Westpac has owned the Bank of Melbourne, and the rights to the brand, since its acquisition of the bank in 1997. History The RESI Statewide Building Society was granted a banking licence and established the Bank of Melbourne in July 1989, listing it on the Australian Securities Exchange on 13 July 1989. In November 1996, the bank acquired the Victorian business of Challenge Bank from Westpac. On 3 April 1997, Westpac made a $1.43 billion bid to acquire the Bank of Melbourne; on 29 September 1997, holders of 96% of the ordinary shares of the Bank of Melbourne voted to approve the proposal. Conditions of approval for the takeover required Westpac to continue operating the entity as the Bank of Melbourne for three years. The entity traded under that brand name until January 2004, at which point the brand name