RSL president Peter Swandale said it was a difficult decision.

"It affects everyone. The community, staff members and even the volunteers. That makes it a very difficult decision," he said. "We will still maintain our core role of looking after our vets and will still have a health and wellbeing officer available at RSL to assist when required.

"(But) we're not getting people through the doors. Unfortunately the limitations of having 20 people in one enclosure as well as the second wave (of COVID-19 cases) has put a lack of confidence in the community in going out."

Mr Swandale said the decision was also about ensuring the organisation did not lose money.

"We identified it was putting financial pressure on the RSL and decided to close until further notice and until conditions were better for us to reopen," he said.

"A majority of our staff are on JobKeeper and are protected in that way bur unfortunately it was unsustainable for us to keep the doors open. We were losing money."

Mr Swandale said there were about 1200 war veterans in the Bendigo area and that the RSL would continue to support them.

"We will never close that part of the business. It's our core business," he said.

"Of the people seek who assistance, some are ongoing while others need a bit of help and can go off again. We are still running our vet classes including our physical education on Saturday mornings.

"We will still support veterans with meals and care packages we developed the first time we shut down. (They) will also go to supporting staff who are not on JobKeeper."

Veteran assistance is available from the RSL's health and wellbeing officer on 5443 4013 or healthwellbeing@bendigorsl.com.au