Matt Ellevsen will be a familiar face as the head of Griffith Rabobank. Photos: Supplied.
Agribusiness banking specialist Rabobank has appointed long-time local Matt Ellevsen as its area manager for Griffith.
The 49-year-old was raised in the small Central West town of Gulgong, then completed an ag science degree in Sydney, where we worked in accounting for a few years before moving to Mudgee and then to Griffith, where he has lived for the past two decades.
“At the time, my wife had just started a family,” Mr Ellevsen said. ”Living in Sydney, we felt that we were being priced out of the property market even back then.
”We were able to buy our first home in Mudgee. I much prefer living in the country to the big city.”
Announcing the appointment, Rabobank state manager for New South Wales Toby Mendl said Mr Ellevsen brought extensive finance experience to the role.
“Matt has been working in the agri finance sector in Griffith for 21 years and brings a strong knowledge of agriculture, paired with his connection to the local community,” he said.
Mr Ellevsen said that while lending at Rabobank was tailored towards farmers, anyone could deposit savings there, with the bank offering high-interest accounts.
He said he was looking forward to working with an organisation that specialised in agriculture.
“The bank takes a long-term view and has an intimate understanding of agricultural cycles, and it provides clients with access to expert research and analysis tailored to their sector,” he said.
Mr Ellevsen said the farmers in the Griffith area were “always looking to improve their operations both on and off-farm and it’s this drive to improve that makes it a great region to work in”.
“Griffith’s farming community is very vibrant and resilient. The broad range of sectors – from irrigation to dry-land cropping, horticulture, cotton and livestock enterprises – have contributed to a strong and financially robust community,” he said.
Dee Commins recently joined Rabobank’s Major Agricultural Clients team, which supports some of Australia’s largest-scale farmers.
Despite local concerns about water buybacks and inflation, Mr Ellevsen said the progressive nature of local producers in the Griffith region stood them in good stead for the years ahead.
Mr Mendl said the Rabobank team in Griffith was strong and well established.
“This level of support and rock-solid base will see Matt smoothly transition into the role of area manager,” he said.
“Matt’s appointment complements our already outstanding Griffith team – with rural managers Bernie Connolly and Andrew Makeham and analysts Hayley Daniel, Jaimi Gorman, Janet Harrington and Ash Howard.”
Mr Ellevsen has four adult children and is a keen squash player.
The Rabobank Griffith branch is at 426-468 Banna Avenue. It can be contacted on 02 6969 7700.
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