Over 40 local community and sporting groups shared more than $44,000 of the Regional Australia Bank’s million dollar Community Partnership Program.
A total of $44,122.65 was divided among 41 worthwhile organisations, including the Cobar Preschool, Cobar Junior Rugby League, Cobar Netball Association, Cobar Athletics and Triathlon Squad (CATS), and the Kubby House Child Care Centre.
The Community Partnership Program is now in its 10th year, and continues to go from strength to strength with this year’s community donations totalling a whopping $1,028,402.
Cobar branch manager Kelly Fairbank was thrilled with the total Cobar groups received this year from the program.
“We’re hugely proud of our ability to deliver social and environmental returns to our regional communities.
“We are passionate about giving back to our community and empowering our customers to support local community groups they feel strongly about,” Ms Fairbank said.
The Community Partnership Program allows new bank customers to open a transaction
account and at the same time pledge their
support for a group or organisation close
to their heart.
Regional Australia Bank then calculates the average annual balance of all supporters’ accounts and donates one per cent of the total to the cause on the customers’ behalf – all without costing them a cent.
Regional Australia Bank CEO Kevin Dupé said with more and more people getting on board, the Community Partnership Program has continued to grow at over 30 per cent per year and provides invaluable donations to various local grass roots clubs and community groups.
“The Community Partnership Program is just one of the ways in which we assist our customers and communities,” Mr Dupé said.
“Regional Australia Bank is proud to continue delivering the Community Support Program in 2018, enabling it to continue enhancing the quality of life and a strong sense of community for the regions it serves.
“Our customer owned structure means that not only do our clientele benefit from fairer fees, competitive interest rates and the local expertise, they also know they’re benefiting Regional Australia by helping it prosper and thrive.”
In addition to the Community Partnership Program, Regional Australia Bank also gives five per cent of its net profits back to the community through sponsorships to local clubs and community organisations, as well as contributing to regional infrastructure projects.
“The Community Partnership Program represents community activism at its best,” Mr Dupé said.
He said without members’ ongoing support, this invaluable donation scheme would not be able to thrive.
“After all, it’s the opportunity to make a difference, to build better communities and to create better places to live that drives so many of us – so it’s fitting that our customers, who are also members of our communities, lead the way in initiatives like this one,” Ms Fairbank said.
Aside from celebrating 10 years of the Community Partnership Program, 2018 also represents the 50th anniversary of Regional Australia Bank.
Over that time the bank has been able to contribute more than $2.5million to deserving community groups since the start of the Community Partnership Program.
