$200,000 Birthday Splash: Community Bank Surf Coast kick off wish list

TO celebrate 20 years of the Community Bank Surf Coast, the organisation is making wishes come true by giving out $200,000 of profits through a community wish-list.

Kicking off last Friday (February 10) the Anglesea, Lorne and Winchelsea branches are opening their community gift giving applications to any businesses or local community groups that are seeking any type of upgrades, big or small.

Community Bank Surf Coast chair John Knuckey said the institution was remarkably proud to be celebrating their 20th year.

 

“The board has decided to have a special birthday celebration and provide the community with another opportunity to be supported,” Mr Knuckey said.

“We will aim most of this funding towards infrastructure improvements which will in turn assist and support the volunteers who run our community groups.

“On average we give $150,000 back to the community and that continues, this wish list is on and above our usual marketing grant program, it’s going to be $350,000 this year!”

Opened in 2003 after Winchelsea was left without a bank, the organisation set out to achieve $50 million as a breakeven of banking business in their first year, a figure they topped in their first two months.

Fast forward 20 years, Community Bank Surf Coast have branches set up in Anglesea, Lorne and Winchelsea and have invested $3 million back into local initiatives.

A further $1 million in dividends has been returned to local shareholders.

Mr Knuckey said the key to their ongoing success is the importance of being competitive in the market, having good staff and building strong relationships with the community.

“We haven’t got 50,000 people in our catchment like other areas, so the support is really important,” he said.

“We are all community people, we get the picture and are built on relationships.

“People have appreciated the fact that we return the money back to the community too, it’s a totally different concept to any organisation in our catchment area.”

The $200,000 wish list will be achieved before the end of the financial year.

All applications are subject to the Corangamite Financial Services Community Investment Policy.

Those living outside of the Corangamite catchment will not be able to apply.

To apply, email [email protected] or call Community Engagement Advisor Kelly Turner on 0459 997 102