Bank manager vanishes as $3.8m goes missing

BRISBANE - A Bendigo Bank manager disappeared the day before he was due to be questioned over financial irregularities at his north Queensland branch.

Colin John Carleton, who was described as the most popular man in town and who managed the bank's Atherton branch, was last seen on Tuesday last week when he set off from his home on a trail bike.

Police said he was due to be questioned the following day by private investigators for Bendigo Bank.

News.com.au reported that Bendigo Bank was investigating how A$3.1 million ($3.8 million) disappeared from the Atherton branch, south of Cairns.

It said the bank was analysing thousands of transactions and accounts.

A search involving up to 30 SES volunteers and a helicopter failed to find the 55-year-old and it was called off.

Bendigo Bank public relations manager Lauren Treacy yesterday told AAP: "Police have said their number one priority is to find Colin and obviously we support that."

The bank's financial crimes investigators have been called in but the bank has yet to lodge a formal complaint with police.

Les Day, a family friend who described Carleton as "the most popular man in Atherton", said the family were going through hell, according to News.com.au.

"The whole town is devastated - absolutely shattered," Day said. "It's just unbelievable. There's that many theories going around."

- AAP