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\u201cThe board has decided to have a special birthday celebration and provide the community with another opportunity to be supported,\u201d Mr Knuckey said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will aim most of this funding towards infrastructure improvements which will in turn assist and support the volunteers who run our community groups.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn 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\u2019s going to be $350,000 this year!\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
A further $1 million in dividends has been returned to local shareholders.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe haven\u2019t got 50,000 people in our catchment like other areas, so the support is really important,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are all community people, we get the picture and are built on relationships.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople have appreciated the fact that we return the money back to the community too, it\u2019s a totally different concept to any organisation in our catchment area.\u201d<\/p>\n
The $200,000 wish list will be achieved before the end of the financial year.<\/p>\n
All applications are subject to the Corangamite Financial Services Community Investment Policy.<\/p>\n
Those living outside of the Corangamite catchment will not be able to apply.<\/p>\n
To apply, email marketing@corangamitefs.com.au or call Community Engagement Advisor Kelly Turner on 0459 997 102<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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 […]<\/p>\n