Festival founder and convenor Stuart Pearson said Family First Bank had come on board to support the event after Bathurst Regional Council knocked back a request last month to bankroll the festival to the tune of $20,000.

Organisers will still have to source state and federal funding for the festival but Mr Pearson said the $5000 from Family First Bank was a "wonderful first step".

Family First CEO Darryl Macauley said the bank was pleased to help.

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"I am delighted Family First is associated with this important new festival," Mr Macauley said.

"I wish the organisers all the very best and look forward to the Festival of Bells becoming a major cultural event for the Central West."

Mr Pearson said the inaugural festival, held in May 2021, had been an outstanding success.

"It brought together nine community groups, 50 volunteers, and over 250 performers," Mr Pearson said.

"A total of more than 2600 people attended the 2 1/2 day event, of which up to a third were visitors from outside the region.

"According to Bathurst Regional Council the inaugural Festival of Bells pumped more than $375,000 into the local economy and created 3 1/2 new jobs."

Based on Bathurst having the only Carillon in regional and rural Australia, Mr Pearson said organisers were determined to see the community-led Festival of Bells grow to become a major cultural event for Bathurst and the Central West.

He acknowledged council's continuing in-kind support of the festival but said it was "unfortunate" councillors voted last month to reject a request for financial support to help defray costs.

Instead, councillors voted to waive road closure fees for the festival up to the value of $2500.

Mr Pearson acknowledged the efforts of Stuart Driver in helping to secure the bank's sponsorship.

The 2022 Festival of Bells is scheduled for May.

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