Community Bank’s Wishlist proves popular

THE Community Bank Surf Coast has been overwhelmed with the response to its recent 20th birthday celebration Wishlist grant program.

The bank put up a $200,000 pool for community groups to request funding for their “wishlist” ideas, and more than 80 organisations have taken up the offer.

The Anglesea Community House will have a new playhouse and interactive music area, the Aireys Inlet Junior Football Club have updated their training equipment and both the Lorne Independent newspaper and Anglesea and District Historical Society will receive a modernised IT system.

They are just some of the many organisations that have received funding under the program.

Corangamite Financial Services owns and runs Community Bank Surf Coast and ahead of the 20th birthday being officially celebrated in November, the volunteer board thought the Wishlist program was a great way to thank the customers and community groups for the support they have given the Anglesea, Lorne and Winchelsea branches to grow to what they have become.

Across the two decades, the bank will have returned close to $4 million to many different organisations in the region by the time November celebrations roll around.

Applications have now closed for the grants, but you can follow the program on Facebook and Instagram to see if your group has been successful.

Although the Wishlist is now completed, the Surf Coast Community Bank will continue to run the quarterly grant programs, with the next round of applications opening in July for September review and again in October, with community groups receiving an extra treat for Christmas.

If your community group has never previously sought a grant and you could benefit from an injection of support to assist with your cause, drop into one of the branches and have a discussion with the staff about how the grant program works.

They will introduce you to the success of profit sharing in banking, and you will find that becoming a Community Bank customer has more benefits to your life than just the face-to-face customer service experience of local banking.

The Surf Coast Community Footy tipping competition has been well taken up, with 274 entrants battling for the $10,000 on offer for the winner’s community organisation of their choice.

Despite some inconsistent performances from the elite of the AFL teams, entrants have returned some stunning results and the competition is very hot at the pointy end.

Follow the results in each week’s edition of the Surf Coast Times and see if your favourite community group is in the hunt for some cash prizes come September.

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