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Interest Rate Change – May 2026

Tue, 12 May 2026 14:17:45 Z

On Tuesday 5 May 2026, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) announced an increase of 0.25%p.a. to the official cash rate.

Following this, we have reviewed the interest rates applicable to our variable and fixed rate home loans and advise that the rates will increase by up to 0.25%p.a. for new loans effective from 14 May 2026, with increases of up to 0.25%p.a. for existing variable rate mortgage holders effective from 23 June 2026. Members with a loan account will be advised individually of any change to their interest rate and minimum repayments.

Our variable savings rates including Bonus Saver Account will increase by up to 0.25%p.a. effective from 1 June 2026.

Whilst changes to the RBA cash rate is one of the factors that informs our pricing decisions, there are other factors that we consider such as economic and market conditions, cost to lend and the competitor landscape. This helps us to assess and to continue to offer competitive rates to our members.

If you would like further information on any of our products or services, please review the information on our website or contact us to see how we can help.

International Nurses Day 2026

Tue, 12 May 2026 02:55:26 Z

Every year on 12 May, International Nurses Day recognises the vital role nurses play around the world. It’s a chance to acknowledge a profession at the centre of healthcare, delivering skilled, compassionate care at every stage of life.

The date marks Florence Nightingale’s birthday, honouring the woman whose work helped shape modern nursing into the respected profession it is today.

The 2026 theme, “Empowered Nurses Save Lives,” highlights how better support for nurses leads to stronger care and healthier communities. Nurses are at the heart of healthcare, treating patients, monitoring progress, coordinating services and advocating for those in their care.

To do their jobs well, nurses need the right support: ongoing training, the right staffing, strong leadership and workplaces that prioritise wellbeing. When these are in place, they can provide high-quality, person-centred care and respond to increasingly complex health needs.

Nurses also play a broader role across the health system from preventing illness to managing chronic conditions, helping reduce pressure on hospitals and improve overall care.

International Nurses Day 2026 serves as a reminder that genuine support truly matters. Investing in nurses is essential for stronger healthcare and better outcomes for everyone.

Award-winning support for nurses

As a member-focused, values-driven organisation, we are committed to the ongoing promotion and creation of mutual value, striving to make a positive impact for our members and the communities we are part of.

We have a proud history as a customer-owned bank supporting key worker groups and state government employees including NSW Ambulance and Corrective Services, as well as those in teaching and healthcare.

As such, we have long provided special offers and product features to help support the financial wellbeing of these members.

Our Essential Worker Home Loan is a low interest, variable rate home loan specifically designed to recognise the contribution essential workers, like nurses, make to the community by supporting their home ownership journey with a value and feature packed product.

Independently recognised as winner of the 2024 Finder Innovation Award in the Social Impact Innovation category and with three 2025 Mozo Experts Choice Awards, our Essential Worker Home Loan demonstrates our commitment to support those who support others.

It’s our way of saying ‘thank you’ to essential workers for the work they do in always serving our community.

Fuel crisis driving new wave of toll and delivery scams, experts warn

Mon, 11 May 2026 11:46:43 Z

The Customer Owned Banking Association (COBA) is urging Australians to be alert for scammers taking advantage of the fuel crisis through a number of sophisticated phishing scams.

“Scammers are often trying to lure victims through the promise of relief or the threat of added costs. You should be particularly wary of unsolicited offers for significant fuel discounts or ‘fuel rebates’ that require you to provide the credit card details used at the pump to receive money back,” advised COBA’s Head of Financial Crimes and Cyber Resilience Martin Latimer.

He also urges Australians to be suspicious of text messages or emails that claim delivery or toll fees have increased due to rising fuel costs. In this scenario, the recipient is told their package is held up or their account is restricted until a small ‘fuel surcharge’ is paid via a provided link. While the requested amount is often negligible, the true goal is to capture your payment information once you enter it into their spoofed portal.

“While the ways the scammers try to get you to act may vary, the underlying goal remains the same – the tactics have been designed to obtain your personal information, such as usernames, passwords, and credit card details,” he said.

“Phishing scams are a constant threat, and the only way to truly protect yourself is to remain vigilant with any type of unsolicited contact.

“Legitimate companies will never reach out via an unsolicited text or email to ask for your passwords, credit card numbers, or sensitive data,” Latimer added.

If you receive a suspicious alert regarding a toll, fuel rebate, or delivery fee, do not click the link provided in the message. Instead, navigate independently to the company’s official website or use their verified mobile app.

It’s also recommended to always check the sender's email address. While a message may look authentic, the actual email or phone number often fails to match the organisation's official contact details.

“We are also expecting to see a rise in fraudulent ‘track the price of fuel’ websites. These platforms are often nothing more than digital traps designed to harvest personally identifiable information under the guise of helping you save money,” Latimer warned.

Phishing scams are designed to obtain your personal information or get you to click on malicious links. Always remember to Stop, Check, Protect.

If you have lost money as part of a phishing scam, immediately report the transaction(s) to your bank or financial institution and complete a report through ReportCyber.

Even if you've managed to avoid losing money to a phishing scam, reporting it is still crucial. By sharing your story, you contribute to protecting others and stopping these criminals. Report the scam to National Anti-Scam Centre - Scamwatch.

Need help?

If you believe someone has gained access to your bank account and/or personal information, even if the scam appears unrelated to your finances, you should contact your bank immediately. A timely response can be critical.

If you have concerns about your account contact us immediately.
You can report cybercrime directly to the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) or National Anti-Scam Centre (NASC) – Scamwatch.
Find out how scams work, how to protect yourself, what to do if you’ve been scammed or report a scam to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) via Scamwatch.
Change your passwords and enable two-factor authentication to protect your accounts.

As always, we remain committed to your security and privacy online. To understand how we help to keep you safe, please refer to our Security page. For more information on common scams and how to protect yourself, please visit the News section of our website.

Privacy Awareness Week 2026

Fri, 08 May 2026 02:55:26 Z

Privacy Awareness Week (PAW) runs from 4–10 May 2026 and highlights the importance of protecting personal information and building trust in how it’s handled. This global event encourages organisations, government agencies, and individuals to understand their privacy rights and responsibilities, while promoting better ways to manage personal data.

This year’s theme, “Trust is built here: In every privacy complaint. In every resolution.”, emphasises that trust is built not just through policies, but through consistent, fair, and transparent actions should issues arise.

In an increasingly data-driven world, personal information is constantly collected, stored, and shared. From everyday transactions to essential public services, individuals rely on organisations to safeguard their data.

Privacy Awareness Week reinforces the importance of strong privacy practices. When people trust that their information is handled securely and respectfully, confidence in organisations and institutions grows.

How you can protect your personal information

Use strong, unique passwords always use a mix of uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols, with a minimum of 14 characters.
Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): MFA adds an extra layer of protection by requiring something you know (like a password or passphrase) and something you have (like your phone).
Review privacy settings on social media, apps, and devices.
Be cautious on social media: Keep accounts private and think before sharing, scammers can use your posts to steal your identity.
Never share your password
Be cautious of phishing attempts and unsolicited communications, if it sounds too good to be true, it likely is.
Act quickly if your privacy is breached: Change passwords, notify your bank, monitor accounts, watch for scams, and check your credit report.
Understand data collection policies before using new apps or services.
Keep your software updated to protect against known security vulnerabilities.

For more information on common scams and how to protect yourself, please visit the News section of our website, or alternatively the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) has a wealth of information and advice about protecting yourself online.

As always, we remain committed to your security and privacy online. To understand how we manage your personal information, please visit our Privacy page. To understand how we help to keep you safe, please refer to our Security page.

Need help?

If you believe someone has gained access to your personal information, even if it appears unrelated to your finances, you should contact your bank immediately. A timely response can be critical in giving you the best chance to stem any loss.

If you have concerns about your Unity Bank account, contact us on 1300 364 400.
If the scam occurred on social media or a legitimate website, report it to the platform involved.
You can find more information around protecting your personal information at the Privacy Awareness Week website.

International Firefighters’ Day: Honouring courage, service and sacrifice

Mon, 04 May 2026 11:46:43 Z

Each year on 4 May, people around the world mark International Firefighters’ Day. It’s a time to remember firefighters who have lost their lives in the line of duty and to thank those who continue to serve their communities.

Firefighters play an essential role in protecting lives, property and the environment, from responding to emergencies to helping during natural disasters, their work often puts them in dangerous situations. This day recognises their selflessness, courage, and willingness to risk their lives to save others.

International Firefighters’ Day was first established following a proposal by JJ Edmondson, a volunteer Lieutenant and firefighter in Victoria, in January 1999, after the deaths of five firefighters battling a bushfire in Australia on 2 December 1998.

The date, 4 May, was chosen because it is linked to the Catholic patron saint of firefighters, St Florian, who is recognised as one of the first known commanders of a firefighting unit in the Roman Empire. This day is also observed worldwide as St Florian’s Day.

A symbol of support

The blue and red ribbon is a simple way to show support. Red represents fire and blue represents water; two elements’ firefighters work with every day. People may also attend memorials, community events, or take a moment to acknowledge firefighters locally and around the world.

For many, being a firefighter is more than just a job. Whether volunteering or working professionally, it requires courage, resilience and a strong commitment to helping others. International Firefighters’ Day is a chance to recognise both their service and the sacrifices they make.

Award-winning support

As a member-focused, values-driven organisation, we are committed to the ongoing promotion and creation of mutual value, striving to make a positive impact for our members and the communities we are part of.

Our Essential Worker Home Loan is a low interest, variable rate home loan specifically designed to recognise the contribution essential workers, like fire fighters, make to the community by supporting their home ownership journey with a value and feature packed product.

Independently recognised as winner of the 2024 Finder Innovation Award in the Social Impact Innovation category and with three 2025 Mozo Experts Choice Awards, our Essential Worker Home Loan demonstrates our commitment to support those who support others.

It’s our way of saying ‘thank you’ to essential workers for the work they do in always serving our community.

Earth Day

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 02:55:26 Z

Earth Day takes place on 22 April each year, bringing people together worldwide to raise awareness of environmental issues and inspire action to protect the planet. The 2026 theme, “Our Power, Our Planet,” reinforces the role of collective action in driving meaningful progress.

This theme highlights how environmental protection impacts everyday life, influencing the cost of living, public health, infrastructure reliability, and long-term stability. It also impacts food systems, water resources, energy access, disaster resilience, and economic strength. Throughout history, community involvement has been central to these outcomes across countries and political systems.

First held in 1970, Earth Day began as a grassroots movement in the United States at a time when environmental concerns were gaining attention. Led by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson following a major oil spill in California, the inaugural event mobilised around 20 million people through rallies, teach-ins, and clean-up activities. This momentum helped drive landmark legislation in the USA, including the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and Endangered Species Act.

Since then, Earth Day has grown into a global movement. By 1990, it had expanded to more than 140 countries, engaging over 200 million people and highlighting climate change as a global priority. Today, it is recognised as the largest environmental event worldwide, with more than one billion participants each year.

With over 75,000 partners across 190 countries, Earth Day continues to educate, engage, and mobilise communities by creating accessible opportunities for involvement. The 2026 theme reinforces shared responsibility, particularly as increasing pressure on environmental systems highlights the need for coordinated, community-driven action.

Businesses also play a vital role, with growing expectations to reduce environmental impact, adopt sustainable practices, support local communities, and maintain transparency.

Earth Day 2026 encourages participation at every level, from local clean-ups and educational initiatives to advocacy and events throughout Earth Week (18–25 April). For more information on locating a community clean-up in your area, refer to earthday.org.

Personal actions you can do to get involved:

Choose a greener commute: if you usually drive to work or the train station, you could bike/walk all or part of the way, to reduce carbon footprint.
Go plastic free for a day (or more): challenge yourself to avoid single-use plastics, bring reusable bags, containers, and bottles wherever you go.
Plant something: Whether it’s a houseplant, herb, or flower, even a single plant on your windowsill can support pollinators and improve air quality.
Do a quick home energy check-up: turn off any unneeded lights, unplug unused electronics, and swap in energy-efficient bulbs to save both energy and money.

Mutually valuable banking for people and planet

As a member-focused, values-driven organisation, acting responsibly and ethically is at the heart of our operations. We are committed to the ongoing promotion and creation of mutual value and strive to make a positive impact for our members and the communities we are part of. It is this sentiment that underpins our Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Strategy - Mutually valuable banking for people and planet.

We are always looking for ways to minimise the impact our business operations, and our products and financing have on the environment.

Our head office was refurbished to improve efficiency and wellbeing and as part of our commitment to waste reduction, we repurposed much of our existing furniture. Remaining items were made available to staff or donated to Barnardos Australia’s child and family centres and Planet Ark’s City Recycling program.

Newly installed water systems, upgraded lighting and presentation technology were selected to reduce resource consumption and improve energy efficiency. This complemented the office’s comprehensive four-bin recycling system for dry-waste, organics, recyclables, and paper - to help prevent contamination, reduce waste and minimise landfill.

We have also undertaken a Greenhouse Gas Assessment to better understand our emissions and identify reduction opportunities, completing our submission to Climate Active, an Australian Government program driving voluntary climate action. Last year, we offset 1,847 tCO2-e using 80% Verified Carbon Units (VCUs) and 20% Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs).

Our Responsible Banking Policy guides our approach to lending and investing with respect to our ESG Strategy. It outlines how our members’ money is being used to contribute to a positive, viable banking model focused on meeting human needs and sustainability.

We believe sustainable choices should also be affordable choices. Our Green Car Loan and Green Upgrades Loan are the latest additions to our impact product suite, making it easier for our members to take meaningful steps toward reducing emissions and saving on energy costs.

Through our ESG Strategy, we have delivered a number of impact initiatives including recycled PVC cards and environmentally conscious collateral, accessible and inclusive service enhancements, our Essential Worker Home Loan, and Worker Support Benefits.

Scam alert: Watch out for mobile fraud

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 11:46:43 Z

This Scam Alert is a joint warning from the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) and the National Anti-Scam Centre’s Scamwatch.

Recently, it's been reported by Scamwatch that criminals are committing fraud by taking control of mobile phone numbers or making unauthorised changes to phone accounts. Once they gain access to your phone, they can receive verification codes, reset passwords, restrict access to your systems, and get access to a wide range of services that rely on your mobile number for security checks, including:

your bank accounts
myGov
subscription services
rewards programs.

Some people are at risk of mobile number fraud when their email account is compromised. Mobile phone fraud can also occur when scammers gain access to your ID documents or passwords through phishing attempts and following data breaches.

Who’s at risk

Anyone with a mobile phone number can be targeted by this scam. However, people who know or suspect they have been in a data breach may be at greater risk of being targeted.

Warning signs to look out for

Unexpected alerts about changes to your mobile account.
Verification codes you didn’t request.
Account login attempts or password reset emails you didn’t initiate.
Your phone suddenly stops working, shows no signal or switches to ‘SOS only’.

If you've been affected

If your phone stops working unexpectedly or you notice suspicious activity, contact your bank immediately then contact your phone provider.
Change passwords on all your devices and online accounts and notify your bank or card provider straight away.
Monitor your bank statements and account activity for anything unusual.

Need help?

If you have concerns about your account contact us immediately.
You can report cybercrime directly to the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) or National Anti-Scam Centre (NASC) – Scamwatch.
Find out how scams work, how to protect yourself, what to do if you’ve been scammed or report a scam to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) via Scamwatch.
Change your passwords and enable two-factor authentication to protect your accounts.

Interest Rate Change – March 2026

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 14:17:45 Z

On Tuesday 17 March 2026, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) announced an increase of 0.25%p.a. to the official cash rate.

Following this, we have reviewed the interest rates applicable to our variable rate home loans and advise that the rates will increase by up to 0.25%p.a. for existing variable rate mortgage holders effective from 27 April 2026 and commercial variable rate mortgage holders effective from 1 April.

Members with a loan account will be advised individually of any change to their interest rate and minimum repayments.

Whilst changes to the RBA cash rate is one of the factors that informs our pricing decisions, there are other factors that we consider such as economic and market conditions, cost to lend and the competitor landscape. This helps us to assess and to continue to offer competitive rates to our members.

If you would like further information on any of our products or services, please review the information on our website or contact us to see how we can help.

Scam alert: Tai Chi and community activities malware scam

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 11:46:43 Z

Recently, it's been reported by Scamwatch that scammers are advertising ‘free’ classes and creating fake social media groups on various platforms and search engines such as Facebook and Google for a range of activities including Tai Chi, dancing, walking, or hiking.

Once you join the online group, you will receive a call or message from the group administrator. You’ll be advised to download an app from a website to view and register for the free classes. The website may have a button or link to click to ‘Download’ the app from an app store but once you click, it will immediately begin downloading the malware directly to your device. This malware can access and steal your money.

Who’s at risk

Web and social media users
People interested in free or new activities

Warning signs to look out for

Offers for free classes, activities, and events that require you to click on links, download attachments or install software.
Calls or messages from "group administrators".
Class locations and times not freely available.
being asked to download an app from a third-party website.

Need help?

If you have concerns about your account contact us immediately.
You can report cybercrime directly to the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) or National Anti-Scam Centre (NASC) – Scamwatch.
Find out how scams work, how to protect yourself, what to do if you’ve been scammed or report a scam to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) via Scamwatch.
Change your passwords and enable two-factor authentication to protect your accounts.

Clean Up Australia Day

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 02:55:26 Z

Each year on 1 March, communities across Australia roll up their sleeves and take part in one of the country’s most recognisable environmental initiatives where volunteers work in small groups to remove rubbish from local parks, beaches and streets. Clean Up Australia Day is a community event reminding everyone that caring for our environment is a shared responsibility that requires collective action year-round.

Clean Up Australia Day was first established in 1990, when Ian Kiernan founded Clean Up Australia to encourage everyday people to care for their local environments. What began as a grassroots effort quickly became a national movement, empowering millions of Australians to take practical action against pollution and environmental degradation. The message has always extended beyond a single day of picking up litter. The organisation works year-round with communities, governments and businesses to promote sustainable living and long-term environmental solutions.

According to Clean Up Australia, Australia now produces around 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste each year, roughly 100 kilograms per person. Yet only about 13% is recovered, while 84% ends up in landfill.

Even more troubling is the impact on marine ecosystems. Each year, an estimated 130,000 tonnes of plastic enters the ocean from Australian consumption alone. Scientists warn that by 2025, 99% of seabirds worldwide are expected to have ingested plastic, a stark indicator of how deeply pollution is affecting natural systems. These figures highlight a critical environmental challenge that cannot be solved by governments or individuals alone, it’s a collective coordinated effort by whole communities.

What can you do at home? Reduce, reuse, repair, recycle, recover. Starting with these five simple actions can be a practical way to stop litter ending up in our environment and keep more waste out of landfill.

To get involved in Clean Up Australia Day you can register a new clean-up, join an existing one (use the official interactive map to search by postcode or suburb) or donate at https://www.cleanup.org.au/. Clean-ups can be registered any day of the year.

Mutually valuable banking for people and planet

We are always looking for ways to minimise the impact our business operations have on the environment.

Our head office was recently refurbished to improve efficiency and wellbeing and as part of our commitment to waste reduction, we repurposed much of our existing furniture. Remaining items were made available to staff or donated to Barnardos Australia’s child and family centres and Planet Ark’s City Recycling program. Newly installed water systems, upgraded lighting and presentation technology were selected to reduce resource consumption and improve energy efficiency. This complemented the office’s comprehensive four-bin recycling system for dry-waste, organics, recyclables, and paper - to help prevent contamination, reduce waste and minimise landfill.

We have also undertaken a Greenhouse Gas Assessment to better understand our emissions and identify reduction opportunities, completing our submission to Climate Active, an Australian Government program driving voluntary climate action. Last year, we offset 1,847 tCO2-e using 80% Verified Carbon Units (VCUs) and 20% Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs).

Through our ESG Strategy, we have delivered a number of impact initiatives including recycled PVC cards and environmentally conscious collateral, accessible and inclusive service enhancements, our Essential Worker Home Loan, Green Car Loan, Green Upgrades Loan, Worker Support Benefits and our Responsible Banking Policy.

Changes to Fees and Charges - March 2026

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 02:55:26 Z

Members are advised of changes to our fees and charges effective 10 March 2026.

We will be expanding the Consent Fee to cover consent to subdivide, substitute, lease, cross-collateralise or any other matter where we need to reassess the loan in any way. The Consent Fee will remain at $300.

This expansion will result in an increase to the fee associated with security variation (from $200 to $300) and an increase in the fee associated with subdivision (from $250 to $300).

We will be introducing the following new fees:

Re-documentation Fee of $250 for instances where a member requests to Fixed Rate Lock after their loan offer and contract documentation has been provided, but prior to loan settlement.
Foreign Cheque Deposit Fee of $20 for cheques up to $25,000 or $50 for cheques over $25,000.

These changes will take effect on 10 March 2026. If you would like to discuss any of these changes, please contact us.

ClickFit: Are you fit to click-date?

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 11:46:43 Z

ClickFit: Are you fit to click-date?

ClickFit: Romance Scams is designed to get Australians to stop their scroll, check the warning signs of romance scams, and protect their hearts and wallets from cybercriminals. Think of ClickFit as a road-safety campaign for digital dating: every online user is being urged to slow down, swerve around romance scam tactics, and stay one step ahead of cybercrime.

Why ClickFit matters?
Many victims of romance scams experience feelings of embarrassment, fear and disapproval, which prevents them from coming forward. To help Australians navigate online dating safely, it's important they can recognise the warning signs of romance scams. ClickFit will make it easier for Australians to date online and click on love with caution and confidence.

Get ready to click-date in six steps:

If asked, don't move the chat to another platform
Always verify the person online
Ask to video call or meet in person
Never send money or share accounts
Watch out for romance scam tactics
Talk to someone you trust

Need help?
If you believe someone has gained access to your bank account and/or personal information, even if the scam appears unrelated to your finances, you should contact your bank immediately. A timely response can be critical.

If you have concerns about your account contact us immediately.
You can report cybercrime directly to the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC).
Find out how scams work, how to protect yourself, what to do if you’ve been scammed or report a scam to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) via Scamwatch.

Scam alert: Qantas impersonation scam

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 11:46:43 Z

Spike in reports of scammers impersonating Qantas to steal your personal information and money.

What’s happening

Scammers are impersonating Qantas in emails and text messages to steal your personal information and money. They create a sense of urgency to try and get you to act quickly without checking first.

Scammers will use Qantas logos and branding to make the communication look real. The email or text message will urge you to click a link to either:

claim a refund
claim a gift
redeem points that are about to expire.

If you click this link you will be directed to a scam website designed to steal any information you enter.

Qantas has been warning of these sorts of scams, which were first identified in August 2025, and encourages customers to be alert to continued scam activity. The airline does not contact customers to ask for their PINs, passwords, or one-time passwords in text messages or email.

More information can be found on Qantas.com dedicated scams page. The NASC and Qantas work collaboratively to share scam intelligence and to disrupt scams.

Who’s at risk

Anyone could be targeted by this scam. You do not need to be an existing Qantas customer or Qantas Frequent Flyer. However, people who know or suspect they have been involved in a data breach may be at greater risk of being targeted.

If you’ve been affected

Don’t be embarrassed about being scammed.

If you’ve had money or personal information stolen, contact us immediately.
If you think your accounts have been compromised, change your passwords immediately.
Monitor your bank statements and accounts for unusual activity.
If you’ve been scammed or have provided personal information, call IDCARE on 1800 595 160.
Help others by reporting to Scamwatch.

Warning signs to look out for

Suprise offers that come from unsolicited emails or messages.
Sender names, email addresses or website addresses that have been changed and look different from the legitimate domain of an organisation.
Limited time offers creating urgency such as expiring loyalty points or "missing out" on a refund or gift.
Communications that ask for your personal details, password, PIN, credit card or banking information.
Communications that ask you to click a link and enter personal or sensitive login information.

Protect yourself from scams by:

STOP. Scammers create a sense of urgency. Don’t rush to act, take your time. Never click a link, download an attachment, or enter personal or sensitive login information via a link in an email or message.

CHECK. Check whether the message or email you’ve received is really from Qantas by using your official Qantas app, visiting the Qantas website, or calling Qantas directly using a number you source yourself. Qantas updates its scams awareness website with advice for customers.

PROTECT. If you’ve given any personal information to someone you suspect is a scammer, act quickly. See more about what to do if you’ve been scammed and what steps you can follow.

Need help?

If you have concerns about your account contact us immediately.
You can report cybercrime directly to the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) or National Anti-Scam Centre (NASC) – Scamwatch.
Find out how scams work, how to protect yourself, what to do if you’ve been scammed or report a scam to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) via Scamwatch.
Change your passwords and enable two-factor authentication to protect your accounts.

Source: Scamwatch

Interest Rate Change – February 2026

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 08:57:11 Z

On Tuesday 3 February 2026, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) announced an increase of 0.25%p.a. to the official cash rate.

Following this, we have reviewed the interest rates applicable to our variable and fixed rate home loans and advise that the rates will increase by up to 0.50%p.a. for new loans effective from 6 February 2026, with increases of up to 0.36%p.a. for existing variable rate mortgage holders effective from 18 March 2026.

Our variable savings rates including Bonus Saver Account will increase by up to 1.75%p.a. effective from 1 March 2026.

Members with a loan account will be advised individually of any change to their interest rate and minimum repayments.

Whilst changes to the RBA cash rate is one of the factors that informs our pricing decisions, there are other factors that we consider such as economic and market conditions, cost to lend and the competitor landscape. This helps us to assess and to continue to offer competitive rates to our members.

If you would like further information on any of our products or services, please review the information on our website or contact us to see how we can help.

Unity Bank CEO Transition

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 10:18:51 Z

The Board of Unity Bank is pleased to announce that following the successful merger of G&C Mutual Bank and Unity Bank in March 2025, the long-planned transition of CEOs took effect this week.

As detailed in the Member Information Document, and an integral part of the merger process, the initial CEO Danny Pavisic was scheduled to step aside after taking on the role in March 2025 and Rosanna Argall has re-assumed the role of CEO (having served as the CEO of G&C Mutual Bank until the merger in March 2025).

The timing of the transition provides for a smooth handover as the bank moves through its annual Board strategic planning cycle and provides an opportunity for Rosanna to continue to enhance on the integration that has already taken place since March 2025, overseen by Danny.

In announcing the transition, Mr. Pavisic, who has been with Unity Bank for 21 years, the last 6 as CEO said, “it has been an honour to lead the bank during the merger process, in particular as the team met the challenge of bringing two highly successful entities together and guaranteeing our collective future.”

Unity Bank Chair, Steve Helmich paid tribute to Mr. Pavisic, noting “the Board is very appreciative of the critical role Danny has played in achieving this merger of equals, and his tireless work in bringing the two organisations together. He hands over to Rosanna with the bank exceptionally well placed to capture the many opportunities that lie ahead”.

Incoming CEO, Rosanna Argall thanked Danny for his leadership and for working harmoniously together to take the first steps in the integration of the two banks. Rosanna also noted that she was ‘looking forward to continuing to engage with our members, our staff and our various partners and stakeholders to ensure the success and sustainability of our organisation for the benefit of everyone well into the future.”

G&C Mutual Bank Community Support Package

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 00:49:06 Z

With the recent Queensland floods and Victorian bushfires, we stand prepared with G&C Mutual Bank's Community Support Package to assist you.

Deferred home loan repayment

Deferred loan repayment option available on qualifying existing and new G&C Mutual Bank home loans and home loan refinances¹

Member support

Practical and tailored assistance to help you and your family get your finances back in shape

If you have been impacted by the Queensland floods and Victorian bushfires, we are ready to assist. Please give us a call on 1300 364 400.

Disclaimer
Credit eligibility criteria, terms and conditions, fees and charges apply. 1. Loan deferment option available at the discretion of the Bank and subject to approval. Interest accrues and is capitalised to the loan throughout the approved loan repayment deferral period. Unity Bank Limited ABN 72 087 650 637 | AFSL & Australian Credit Licence 238311

NSW Ambulance 2025 Employee of the Year

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 15:19:57 Z

G&C Mutual Bank has sponsored the NSW Ambulance Employee of the Month and Employee of the Year Awards for over a decade. It’s our way of thanking NSW Ambulance employees for their service to the community.

Employee of the Year, 2025 – Martin G, Paramedic (Lead Volunteer Facilitator, Community First Responders)

Left to right: Unity Bank CEO, Danny Pavisic; NSW Ambulance Employee of the Year 2025, Martin G; NSW Ambulance Commissioner and Chief Executive, Dominic Morgan

The NSW Ambulance Employee of the Year Award for 2025 has been presented to Queanbeyan paramedic Martin G, in recognition of his dedication to education, teamwork, and community-based emergency response.

Martin has been acknowledged for his leadership as the lead volunteer facilitator for Community First Responders (CFR) in the Southern Tablelands town of Captains Flat. CFRs are volunteers, often drawn from the NSW State Emergency Service (SES) and Rural Fire Service (RFS), who provide vital first aid and patient support during medical emergencies and major incidents while awaiting the arrival of paramedics.

Through his commitment to training and continuous improvement, Martin has strengthened the skills and confidence of the Captains Flat CFR unit. His work has improved communication between volunteers and paramedics, enhanced operational performance, and built stronger connections between NSW Ambulance and the local community.

Martin said the award reflects the dedication of the volunteers he supports.

“I’m really proud of all the Community First Responders - who have their own jobs and then come home and are on call. They really inspire me,” he said.

“I’m very humbled and honoured by this award, which is also testament to the efforts of the volunteers and the other facilitators from NSW Ambulance.”

We extend our warmest congratulations to Martin and thank him for his exceptional service to the community. We are honoured to have sponsored the NSW Ambulance Employee of the Month and Employee of the Year Awards for over a decade and are proud to recognise and reward the dedication and hard work of NSW Ambulance employees like Martin.

Article source: NSW Ambulance

About the NSW Ambulance employee awards

Each month, a staff member is recognised with the Employee of the Month Award for demonstrating outstanding performance or innovation. At the end of the year, the Employee of the Year is chosen from the Honour Roll of monthly award recipients.

NSW Ambulance is an integral part of the NSW Health System delivering mobile health services and providing high quality clinical care, rescue and retrieval services to those people of NSW with emergency and medical health needs.

Scam Alert: Increased scam activity following Bondi Beach Attack

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 11:46:43 Z

Following the recent terrorist attack at Bondi Beach, there is an increased risk of scam and financial crime activity. Scammers are known to exploit major public events by impersonating trusted organisations, creating fake donation appeals, or pressuring people into making urgent payments.

This article outlines common scam types, safe payment practices, and practical tips to help you stay protected.

Common scams to be aware of

After major incidents, scam activity often increases. Watch out for:

Fake charities and donation requests: Scammers may impersonate legitimate charities or emergency relief funds, requesting donations via text messages, emails, social media posts, or fake websites.
Fake government or compensation messages: You may receive contact from someone claiming to represent a government agency or authority, offering compensation, refunds, or financial support. These messages often ask for personal details or immediate payment.
Urgent or emotionally charged payment requests: Scammers frequently use urgency to pressure people into acting quickly without verifying the request.

Use secure payment methods

Before making a payment or donation, consider whether the payment method being requested is appropriate for the situation. Legitimate organisations do not require urgent or unusual payment methods. Scammers often request payment methods that are hard to recover, including PayID or real-time bank transfers, international transfers, cryptocurrency, or gift cards.

Stick to trusted and secure payment methods, which often have built-in buyer protection and fraud prevention features to help safeguard your purchases. If you are being pressured to pay quickly or in a specific way, stop and verify the request before proceeding.

How to protect yourself

Here are 4 practical tips to help you stay protected:

Verify the organisation or recipient using official websites or trusted contact details.
Do not click links in unsolicited emails, text messages, or social media posts.
Donate only through official charity channels.
Take time to check the request. Scammers often use urgency to pressure people into paying.

Need help?

If you have concerns about your account contact us immediately.
You can report cybercrime directly to the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) or National Anti-Scam Centre (NASC) – Scamwatch.
Find out how scams work, how to protect yourself, what to do if you’ve been scammed or report a scam to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) via Scamwatch.
Change your passwords and enable two-factor authentication to protect your accounts.

ClickFit: Are you fit to click?

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 11:46:43 Z

The Australian Federal Police (AFP)-led Joint Policing Cybercrime Coordination Centre (JPC3) has launched ‘ClickFit’: a national awareness campaign designed to get Australians to stop their scroll, check the warning signs of scams, and protect themselves from cybercrime.

Think of 'ClickFit' as a road-safety campaign for the internet: every online user is being urged to slow down, swerve around scam links, emails, and messages, and stay one step ahead of cybercriminals. The campaign promotes safe online behaviour, helps people recognise scams, encourages incident reporting, and supports stronger cyber protection measures.

Recent findings suggest too many Australians are not adopting necessary safety measures online and too few are reporting incidents to police when targeted by cybercriminals, with reporting rates in 2024 ranging from 8% for malware to 22% for fraud and scams. According to the Australian Institute of Criminology’s Cybercrime in Australia 2024 report, many victims believed their experience was not serious enough to report or that nothing could be done. Every cybercrime report helps police track criminals, shut down their networks, assist in building intelligence on emerging cyber threats, and prevent other people from being targeted.

AFP Acting Commander of Cybercrime Operations Marie Andersson said the message for digital consumers was clear – the online world was incredible, but it was important to develop cyber tools and skills to navigate it confidently and safely.

“Research shows our online habits directly impact our risk profile and many Australians overlook simple steps to stay secure online, which can prevent their victimisation,” Acting Commander Andersson said.

Real examples:
In a recent case investigated by Tasmania Police, a man lost more than $400,000 to a sophisticated cryptocurrency investment scam – despite advice from his bank and police. Acting Commander Andersson said this demonstrated just how convincing and persistent scammers could be.

In another case, a mother reported to South Australia Police that she booked a family holiday for four through an online advertisement that appeared reputable, even checking the business had an ABN. However, after paying thousands of dollars for flights and accommodation, she arrived at her destination only to discover the hotel did not exist.

Despite Australians rating their tech knowledge highly, many fail to use basic protections such as strong passphrases, multi-factor authentication and regular software updates – a critical gap ClickFit aims to close.

Why ClickFit matters
Research shows that unsafe online behaviours can significantly increase the risk of being targeted by cybercriminals. However, there are good habits ahead - if you introduce just six steps into your everyday digital routine, this will help protect you from cybercrime, scams, and keep you safe online. This is how you become 'ClickFit'.

Get ClickFit:

Create strong and unique passphrases for every account.
Enable Multi-Factor Authentication. This adds an extra lock on your accounts, even if your password is stolen.
Install software updates on phones, apps, and computers to close security gaps.
Stay alert to emerging scams and cybercrime trends.
Stop and think before you click. Criminals rely on urgency and distraction. Don't rush.
Verify the source before you click, call or pay. Call or check directly with the legitimate organisation/trusted source before clicking on a link.

Take a moment to reflect on your online habits, have conversations with friends and family about scam safety, and help spread the message, are you ClickFit?

If you have concerns about your account contact us immediately.
You can report cybercrime directly to the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC).
Find out how scams work, how to protect yourself, what to do if you’ve been scammed or report a scam to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) via Scamwatch.

Shop smart: Expert tips to avoid scams this sales season

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 11:46:43 Z

With Boxing Day and other seasonal sales just around the corner, online shopping is set to surge, and unfortunately, so is the risk of scams. As the holiday sales approach, the Customer Owned Banking Association (COBA) is urging consumers to remain vigilant.

“Scammers often use tactics like creating a sense of urgency to get customers to make immediate decisions and payments. Knowing that pressured shoppers are less likely to spot a scam, criminals deliberately target events like Boxing Day sales,” COBA Head of Financial Crimes and Cyber Resilience Martin Latimer explained.

According to ACCC’s Scamwatch, there have been more than $8 million in reported losses from shopping scams in 2025 so far.

To help savvy shoppers stay safe, COBA’s financial crimes team share their expert tips on how to spot, and avoid, such scams.

Beware of fake websites

Scammers often create ‘phantom’ websites that are designed to trick even the savviest shopper.

Latimer urges Australians to be extra cautious when browsing online deals, and to double-check the legitimacy of a website before you decide to make any payments.

Look out for poor website design and spelling or grammatical errors, as well as a lack of customer feedback or reviews for the seller or product.

“Scammers are experts at creating convincing fake websites that closely resemble legitimate retailers. Pay close attention to the domain name, because even a small typo could mean you're on a scam site,” Latimer advised.

Shoppers are urged to verify the site's legitimacy by looking out for a privacy policy, terms and condition, or even contact details - many fake websites don’t include this level of information.

If you are shopping on an Australian website, you can use the Australian Domain Authority’s website register to see which company or trademark registered it.

Don’t click on unsolicited links

Phishing is a tactic criminals use to steal your personal and financial information, such as login credentials or credit card details.

Scammers often send unsolicited emails or messages pretending to be legitimate retailers, delivery companies or payment processors, in an attempt to trick shoppers to click on links or download suspicious attachments.

“A common phishing tactic is a scammer sending an email or text message about a sale or delivery, urging you to click on a link. These links then lead to fake websites or download malware onto your device,” Latimer explained.

“Never open attachments from unknown senders, as they may contain malware. Instead, always go directly to the retailer’s official website.”

Use secure payment methods

Before making any online purchases, make sure your payment is protected. Check that the website shows “https” and a padlock icon to safeguard your financial information.

Latimer added: “Scammers will often encourage you to use untraceable payment methods, like wire transfers or cryptocurrency, so avoid these. Stick to trusted and secure payment methods, which often have built-in buyer protection and fraud prevention features to help safeguard your purchases.”

Trust your instincts. If something appears suspicious or too good to be true, it probably is.

Need help?

If you have concerns about your account contact us immediately.
You can report cybercrime directly to the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) or National Anti-Scam Centre (NASC) – Scamwatch.
Find out how scams work, how to protect yourself, what to do if you’ve been scammed or report a scam to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) via Scamwatch.
Change your passwords and enable two-factor authentication to protect your accounts.

Scam alert: social media minimum age scams

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 11:46:43 Z

From 10 December 2025, some social media platforms will be restricted, by law, to people aged 16 and over. These laws require affected platforms to take reasonable steps to prevent anyone under 16 from creating or holding accounts.

These measures are designed to protect young people from the risks and pressures associated with social media use. Information about the new restrictions is available at eSafety’s social media age restrictions hub.

There are 4 potential scams that opportunistic criminals may use to take advantage of these changes.

Who’s at risk

Young people and their families affected by the new social media age restrictions
Social media users

What the scams might look like

Platform impersonation scams
Scammers may pretend to be social media platforms or age verification providers, and ask you to verify your age or risk losing your account.
Government impersonation scams
Scammers may pretend to be from government or law enforcement, claiming you have breached the new laws and threaten fines unless you provide proof of age.
Fake ID scams
Scammers may offer fake IDs or access to age-verified accounts for a fee, targeting young people under 16 and their families.
‘Hi Mum’ scams
Scammers might impersonate young people aged 16 or older, contacting their parents or guardians to claim they need help verifying their age to use a social media platform.

If someone contacts you about the social media age restrictions

STOP. Don’t be rushed to share age verification details quickly. Don’t make any payments. No legitimate platforms are requesting payment associated with these laws.
CHECK. Make sure the person or organisation you’re dealing with is real. Find out how your social media platforms are communicating with users about the restrictions and how they are verifying users’ ages. You can visit eSafety's frequently asked questions page for more information.
PROTECT. If you’ve given any personal information, such as your age or proof of identity, or money to someone you suspect is a scammer act quickly. The What to do if you’ve been scammed page on scamwatch.gov.au has steps you can follow.

Need help?

If you have concerns about your account contact us immediately.
You can report cybercrime directly to the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC).
Find out how scams work, how to protect yourself, what to do if you’ve been scammed or report a scam to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) via Scamwatch.
Change your passwords and enable two-factor authentication to protect your accounts.

International Computer Security Day 2025

Sun, 30 Nov 2025 11:46:43 Z

Every year on 30 November, International Computer Security Day highlights the importance of protecting personal and organisational information in an increasingly digital world. First acknowledged in 1988, the day is now recognised globally by schools, businesses, and communities of all kinds.

As our reliance on technology grows, so does our exposure to cyber risks. Personal data, financial details, and business information can all be exploited if not properly secured. International Computer Security Day encourages individuals, organisations, and governments to reflect on their online habits and strengthen their digital defences.

Over the past five decades, computers and digital devices have become essential to daily life, from work and study to banking and shopping. This dependence highlights the need for strong security practices and awareness.

Cybercriminals continue to exploit vulnerabilities through identity theft, fraud, ransomware, and malicious software. Taking early, preventive measures is crucial to protecting both personal and business data.

International Computer Security Day serves as a timely reminder to assess your digital security and put effective safeguards in place. Below are practical actions you can take to enhance your online safety:

Use a unique and strong passphrase on every account:
- A passphrase is a more secure version of a password.
- Passphrases are hard for cybercriminals to crack, but easy for you to remember.       
- Create passphrases that are:
  - 15 or more characters
  - Unpredictable: use 4 or more random words. Avoid identifying information such as family names, birth dates or addresses.
  - Unique: are different for every account.
  - Learn more about how to set secure passphrases at cyber.gov.au
Always set up multi-factor authentication (MFA):
- Enable multi-factor authentication where available to add an extra layer of security to all of your online accounts.
- MFA requires two or more proofs of identity to log in to your account
- MFA adds an extra layer of security
- Start with setting up MFA on your most important accounts (such as online banking and email accounts)
- Learn more about how to turn on multi-factor authentication at cyber.gov.au
Install all software updates to keep your devices secure:
- Installing regular updates will keep your devices secure and makes it harder for cyber criminals to access them.
- Make sure that automatic updates are switched on so that you are notified when an update is available.
- Learn more about how to update your devices at cyber.gov.au
Be cautious of phishing attempts
- Always verify unexpected text messages, emails, links, and attachments before opening them.
- Check the sender’s details carefully and confirm the email address or phone number is legitimate.
- Hover over links to inspect the URL, and if in doubt, open a new browser window and navigate to the website manually rather than clicking the link.
- Look for spelling errors, urgent language, unusual requests, or unfamiliar sender details.
- Never provide personal or financial information in response to unsolicited messages.
Back up your data
- Regularly back up important files to a secure location to prevent data loss.
- Use offline backups (such as an external hard drive) or encrypted cloud storage for added security.
- Ensure your backups are protected with strong passwords or encryption.
- Test your backups periodically to confirm they can be restored if needed.

This International Computer Security Day, consider taking time to assess your digital habits. Updating passwords, reviewing privacy settings, installing security updates, or educating those around you about safe online behaviour are all meaningful steps toward better protection. Every proactive action contributes to a more secure digital landscape.

This day is a prompt to prioritise cybersecurity in our daily lives, ensuring that our personal, professional, and organisational information remains safe in an increasingly digital world.

If you have concerns about your account mmediately.
You can report cybercrime directly to the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC).
Find out how scams work, how to protect yourself, what to do if you’ve been scammed or report a scam to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) via Scamwatch.

As always, we remain committed to your security and privacy online. To understand how we help to keep you safe, please refer to our Security page. For information on common scams and how to protect yourself, please visit the News section of our website.

Buy Nothing Day

Sat, 29 Nov 2025 11:46:43 Z

Buy Nothing Day is an annual awareness day that highlights the environmental and social impacts of over-consumption. In many parts of the world, it aligns with Black Friday sales on 28 November, but is held on 29 November in Australia. Black Friday is one of the busiest shopping days of the year, and Buy Nothing Day encourages individuals to pause before purchasing and consider how consumer habits contribute to waste, carbon emissions, and resource depletion. The aim is not to discourage all buying permanently, but to promote a more conscious approach to what we choose to own, use, and value.

Every product has an environmental footprint. Manufacturing requires raw materials and energy. Packaging and distribution rely on transportation networks that produce significant greenhouse gas emissions. Once discarded, many items, particularly clothing and electronics, end up in landfill or are shipped offshore as waste. The fashion industry alone accounts for an estimated 10% of global carbon emissions, as reported by the United Nations, and e-waste is growing faster than any other waste stream worldwide. Furthermore, fashion is one of the most labour-dependent industries in the world, with each piece of apparel traveling through a complex supply chain. The demand for fast, low-cost fashion and the lack of visibility along these supply chains has led the fashion industry to become the second-largest sector, after technology, to support modern slavery. Buy Nothing Day provides space to reflect on the larger impacts behind everyday purchases.

The day encourages the reassessment of needs versus wants and exploring more sustainable options, such as repairing, borrowing, sharing, or buying second-hand. Rather than engaging in impulse purchasing or chasing short-term discounts, Buy Nothing Day promotes long-term thinking: choosing fewer items of higher quality, supporting businesses with ethical and sustainable practices, and valuing experiences, community connection, and creativity over material accumulation.

Ways to participate:

Spend nothing for the day and reflect on your purchasing habits
Repair or maintain items you already own
Donate or exchange items through community swap meets or op shops
Declutter and repurpose where possible
Spend time outdoors or take part in free activities that do not require consumption

Op shops and charitable resale events help extend the life of clothing and reduce textile waste, while also supporting community initiatives. An example of this is the Peter Pan Op Shop in Sydney, a long-running charity fashion sale that raises funds for Barnardos. This year, Unity Bank employees volunteered to help sort donated clothing, assist guests, and support the event, reinforcing the link between sustainability and community impact. Events like these demonstrate how reuse can be both environmentally responsible and socially meaningful.

Buy Nothing Day has evolved into a broader movement encouraging reflection on sustainability, climate impacts, ethical supply chains, and minimalism. While the awareness day lasts 24 hours, its message encourages long-term behavioural change. Becoming a more conscious consumer can help reduce waste, support sustainable industries, and build habits that prioritise environmental responsibility.

The day is ultimately a reminder that every purchase is a choice, with environmental and social consequences, and that by consuming more thoughtfully, individuals can contribute to a healthier, more sustainable future.

Stay alert this Black Friday and Cyber Monday

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 11:46:43 Z

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are among the year’s biggest online shopping events, with millions of Australians searching for bargains. While retailers prepare for increased demand, scammers do too, building fake websites, sending phishing messages and placing deceptive ads designed to steal money and personal information. Fraudulent activity typically rises during major shopping periods.

Common scams to watch for:

AI fake online stores – Professional-looking websites that use deepfake videos, fake reviews, manufactured product images and convincing logos to appear legitimate.
Phishing emails and texts – Messages that appear to come from trusted retailers or delivery companies, asking you to “confirm your order” or “track your parcel.”
Social media ads – Ads promoting unrealistic prices or fake giveaways that redirect you to malicious sites.
Payment scams – Requests for direct bank transfers or cryptocurrency payments instead of secure options like credit cards or PayPal.

It’s also important to note that even legitimate retailers may occasionally use misleading promotions, such as limited-time claims that create false urgency, “store-wide” discounts that exclude most products, or “up to X% off” deals where only a small number of items receive the highest discount.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is conducting a sweep of retailers to ensure their sales advertising is accurate, transparent, and not likely to mislead or deceive consumers.

If you’re planning to shop during the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, check prices before promotions begin so you can compare and ensure the discount is genuine.

How to protect yourself

You can still enjoy the sales, just shop smart:

Stick to trusted retailers:- Buy from official brand websites or authorised sellers.
Check URLs carefully:- Look for subtle spelling differences, extra characters or unusual domain names.
Recognise fake website: AI generated images and videos can show unnatural facial expressions, inconsistent lighting, blurred lip movements. Verify the legitimacy by checking the contact details.
Avoid clicking on suspicious links: Type the retailer’s URL directly or use a bookmark instead of following links from emails, texts or social media.
Use secure payment methods: Credit cards and PayPal generally offer better buyer protection than direct bank transfers or cryptocurrency if something goes wrong.
Be wary of offers that seem too good to be true: They usually are.
Don’t succumb to pressure: Don’t let countdown timers or low stock pressure you into buying.
Verify social media offers: Don’t rely solely on celebrity videos or influencer posts, check the retailer’s official channels.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales can provide a great opportunity to save on your purchases, but it’s also a prime time for scammers. Take a moment to double-check before you click, buy, or share any personal information. A few seconds of caution can save you from weeks of stress and financial loss.

Need help?
If you believe someone has gained access to your bank account and/or personal information, even if the scam appears unrelated to your finances, you should contact your bank immediately. A timely response can be critical.

If you have concerns about your account contact us immediately.
You can report cybercrime directly to the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC).
Find out how scams work, how to protect yourself, what to do if you’ve been scammed or report a scam to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) via Scamwatch.
Change your passwords and enable two-factor authentication to protect your accounts.

National Recycling Week

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 11:46:43 Z

National Recycling Week is one of Planet Ark’s flagship campaigns, held each year during the second week of November. Since its launch in 1996, the initiative has aimed to inspire individuals, businesses, and communities to take meaningful action toward reducing waste, reusing, and recycling correctly.

Over the years, Australia’s recycling efforts have made remarkable progress. What began with only 7% of materials recycled, around 1.5 million tonnes, has now grown to more than 60%, exceeding 43 million tonnes. This transformation demonstrates how education, awareness, and improved recycling systems can make a real difference.

Recycling plays a vital role in protecting our planet. By keeping valuable materials such as paper, glass, metals, and plastics out of landfill, we conserve natural resources and reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. Every item we recycle helps cut down on pollution and the energy required to produce new products from raw materials.

This National Recycling Week, Planet Ark is encouraging everyone to rethink their waste habits, from recycling household items properly to choosing reusable alternatives and reducing overall consumption. Small steps, such as sorting recyclables correctly or buying products made from recycled materials, can create a big collective impact.

Recycling at Home

Households generate significant waste daily, and effective recycling helps reduce landfill waste. Here are some practical ways to recycle at home:

Sort waste properly – Understanding your local council regulations is key to proper recycling and preventing contamination. Check your local council's guidelines.
Reuse and repurpose – Before discarding items, find creative ways to give them a second life. Glass jars, plastic containers, and old clothes can often be repurposed for storage, crafts, or household use.
Start a compost bin – Set up a compost bin for food scraps and garden waste to reduce organic waste. Learn more about how to get started.
Dispose of e-waste properly – Take electronic waste, such as old phones, televisions and batteries, to designated drop-off locations to ensure safe recycling. Find your nearest e-waste collection point.
Container deposit schemes – From 2025, Australia will be the first continent to be fully covered by container deposit schemes. Under these programs you can return a range of aluminium, glass, and plastic drink containers to designated locations for a 10cent refund per eligible item. Learn more about these schemes in each state.

Kerbside recycling

As mentioned above, recycling rules vary by council, but in general the following materials can go into kerbside recycling bins for collection:

Paper and cardboard – Newspapers, magazines, office paper, cereal boxes, and flattened cardboard boxes.
Glass – Bottles and jars (rinsed). Do not include broken glass, ceramics, or Pyrex (cookware).
Plastics – Hard plastics such as soft drink bottles, milk containers and shampoo bottles.
Metal – Aluminium cans, steel cans and foil trays.
Cartons – Milk and juice cartons.

Items to avoid placing in kerbside recycling bins:

Plastic bags
Broken glassware or mirrors or glass from a photo frame
Batteries – Dispose of them at e-waste collection points.
Clothing and other textiles
Food containers with leftover food
Building materials, such as timber, bricks and other construction debris.
Paper towels

Understanding your bin system:

Yellow-lid bins – Used for recyclable materials.

Red lid bens (landfill) - Intended for general waste that cannot be recycled.

Green lid bins - Designed for garden waste, such as leaves, grass clippings, small branches, plants, flowers, weeds, and twigs.

Some councils may allow additional organic materials in green bins, such as food scraps (fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, bread, pasta, eggshells) and compostable packaging. Check your local council’s website for specific bin guidelines.

Recycling labels

It is important to check and understand product labels and follow recycling instructions to ensure proper disposal and avoid contamination.

Most products and packaging made from plastic have a small triangle on them with a number inside. This is a plastic identification code, used to identify the type of plastic the product is made from. Unfortunately, the triangle is often confused with the global symbol for recycling, the Mobius Loop, but it is not an indication the item can be recycled.

The Australasian Recycling Label (ARL) is a labelling system for Australia and New Zealand, that provides consumers with easy-to-understand recycling information on packaging. It removes confusion, saves time and reduces contamination in the recycling stream by providing clear, detailed instructions on how to dispose of all parts of the packaging.

Preventing recycling contamination

Contamination in recycling bins is a significant issue that can cause entire batches of recyclables to be sent to landfill. When food waste, liquids, or non-recyclable items are mixed in, they can ruin otherwise recyclable materials. To avoid this:

Ensure recyclables are clean and dry before disposal.
Keep soft plastics, such as plastic bags and wrappers, out of standard recycling bins.
Do not place hazardous items, such as batteries or electronic waste, in recycling bins, use designated collection points instead.
Follow signage and guidelines on bins to ensure proper waste separation.

By keeping recycling streams clean, we improve efficiency, lower costs, and ensure materials can be effectively repurposed.

Recycling in your workplace

Workplaces generate a substantial amount of recyclable waste, including paper, plastic, and electronics. Here are some steps to enhance recycling in your workplace:

Recycling bins – Use any designated recycling bins throughout your workplace to ensure proper waste disposal and support sustainability efforts.
Go paperless – Consider the need to print. Reduce paper waste by digitising documents and using electronic communication where possible.
Recycle office supplies and equipment – Check if your workplace has collection points for used printer cartridges, batteries, and outdated electronics. Speak to your colleagues about donating or responsibly recycling old office furniture and IT equipment. Find e-waste collection points near you.
Embrace reusable items – Utilise reusable coffee cups, water bottles, lunch containers, plates and cutlery instead of disposables alternatives.

Mutually valuable banking for people and planet

As a member focused, values-driven organisation, acting responsibly and ethically is at the heart of our operations. We are committed to the ongoing promotion and creation of mutual value and strive to make a positive impact for our members and the communities we are part of. It is this sentiment that underpins our Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Strategy - Mutually valuable banking for people and planet.

We are always looking for ways to minimise the impact our business operations have on the environment. Our head office features a comprehensive four-bin recycling system for dry-waste, organics, recyclables, and paper - to help prevent contamination, reduce waste and minimise landfill.

We also recently refurbished our head office to improve efficiency and wellbeing. As part of our commitment to waste reduction, we repurposed much of our existing furniture. Remaining items were made available to staff or donated to Barnardos Australia’s child and family centres and Planet Ark’s City Recycling program. Newly installed water systems, upgraded lighting and presentation technology were selected to reduce resource consumption and improve energy efficiency.

Through our ESG Strategy, we have delivered a number of impact initiatives including recycled PVC cards and environmentally conscious collateral, accessible and inclusive service enhancements, our Essential Worker Home Loan, Green Car Loan, Green Upgrades Loan, Worker Support Benefits and our Responsible Banking Policy.

Join us in making a difference

This National Recycling Week, let's reflect on our recycling habits and how we can contribute to a cleaner, healthier environment. Simple actions, like sorting waste properly, using recycled products, and supporting businesses that prioritise sustainability, can make a significant difference.

Together, we can make recycling second nature and help build a more sustainable Australia.