News

Scams Awareness Week is back from 25–29 August, and this year we’re building on the success of last year’s branch visits by taking our message even further into the community. Last year, our team visited our branches to speak directly with Members about scams - how they happen, who they target and how to stay safe. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with Members sharing their own experiences and learning how to protect themselves and their loved ones. This year, we’re continuing that momentum with an event designed to open up the conversation, raise awareness and empower our community to take action. What’s Happening This Year? Our team will be hosting “Tea and Tips: Staying Safe from Scams” - a special event on Tuesday 26 August from 1.00 pm to 2.30 pm at the East Maitland Bowling Club. Members are invited to come along for a cuppa and hear from our CEO Mark Williams and a panel of experts as they share insights into common scams and how to avoid them. Our panel of experts will include:  Tamar MacDonald - Head of Financial Crimes, The Mutual Bank Giselle Lindley - Head of Financial Crimes, Indue Roger Darvall-Stevens - Partner, Fraud & Forensic Science, RSM Australia Andrew Connelly - Director, Fraud & Forensic Science, RSM Australia Our Financial Crimes Team will be available to chat, answer questions and hand out resources like the Little Black Book of Scams and our handy scam prevention fridge magnets. Why It Matters Australians lost $2 billion to scammers in 2024. The good news is the amount lost has dropped from the previous year which the National Anti-Scam Centre’s Targeting Scams Report attributes to the growing impact of coordinated efforts by government, industry, law enforcement and community organisations to disrupt scam operations and protect consumers. The top five scam types in the report were investment, romance, payment redirection, remote access and phishing scams, which jointly accounted for more than 70 per cent of the total combined losses. By sharing stories and starting conversations, we can help others spot scams before they happen. We want our Members to feel confident, informed, and supported. How You Can Get Involved Attend our Tea and Tips event – RSVP by Friday 22 August or by calling us on 1300 688 825. Stop. Check. Protect. – use this simple message to stay scam-aware Share your story – talking about scams helps others avoid them. We’re proud to be part of this national campaign and invite all Members to join us in protecting our community.

The Mutual Bank was proud to support Maitland and Kurri Kurri Hospitals in celebrating NAIDOC Week 2025, held from 6-13 July. This year’s national theme, “The Next Generation: Strength, Vision and Legacy,” placed local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth at the heart of the celebrations. This year marked the 50th anniversary of NAIDOC Week, and the opportunity to spotlight the strength, resilience, and leadership potential of young Indigenous community members. Leading the way were School-Based Trainees—Annaliese Schonig-Jenkinson (Annie), Tahlia-May Massie, and Lilly Buckland—who played key roles in organising the week’s events. Annie also proudly served as the Master of Ceremonies for the launch. Kirsten Lawrence, Acting Clinical Nurse Educator – Cultural Safety for Maitland and Kurri Kurri Hospitals, coordinated engagement with local schools, facilitating cultural activities including traditional basket weaving and dance workshops. Students from Maitland Public School participated with great pride, performing their first-ever cultural dance for hospital staff and families. Teacher, Dave Wells, expressed his pride in the students, noting their enthusiasm and commitment. The school’s choral group was also invited back to perform at a future hospital event. Our Chief Member Officer Matthew Dunnill said The Mutual Bank was proud to sponsor the cultural engagement activities. “Supporting the next generation to carry forward cultural knowledge and pride is something we’re honoured to be part of,’ he said. Special guests included CEO of Mindaribba Local Land Council, Tara Dever, staff from Bungaree and Aunty Lorraine Martyn and Aunty Lorraine Dederer who performed the cake cutting with Annie. Learn more about National NAIDOC Week and The Mutual Bank’s Sponsorship program.

After careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to close our Edgeworth Branch (including the ATM) on 30 September 2025, which will be the last day of trading.    This decision was not made lightly given that we remain firmly committed to providing a physical branch network for our Members.    Why is the branch closing?  The Mutual Bank must ensure that our Members’ funds are used prudently and invested where the greatest value can be provided to our Members.  Given the Edgeworth Branch has only seen 20 Members visit in the past six months, it is no longer viable to continue its operations.  We intend to redeploy these funds into our physical branch network, including refurbishment of existing branches and assessing future locations for new branches and also continuing the uplift of our digital and virtual capabilities.  What will happen to the current staff?  We are pleased to inform you that no staff will lose their jobs because of this closure. All staff members will be redeployed to our other branches within the network, ensuring that their expertise and dedication continue to benefit our Members.  What about the Members who used the Edgeworth Branch?  We are committed to keeping our Members informed throughout this transition. Members who frequently use the Edgeworth Branch have been contacted personally.   Members are welcome to visit our Mayfield Branch and can check our website for the locations of other branches. We are keen to maintain our physical presence and are actively looking into opening another branch in the Hunter Region to better serve our Members.  We understand that this closure may cause inconvenience to some Members, and we sincerely apologise for any disruption this may cause.  We appreciate your understanding and continued support as we strive to provide the best possible service to our Members.   What is the future of The Mutual Bank’s branch network?  As a customer-owned bank, branches are an important part of our service delivery and our strategic approach of providing Members with a choice of channels to do their banking.  We are actively looking for better positioned locations in the Hunter to best serve our Member base.  The Mutual Bank is investing in our branch network with a refurbishment plan and have just completed our East Maitland Branch renovations.   

In the heart of regional Dungog, NSW, we are thrilled to announce we’re partnering with the Dungog Wholefood Co-op to celebrate the role of co-operatives and mutuals in fostering resilient, self-sustaining regional communities. This partnership is a testament to our commitment to supporting the communities that support us. To kick off this partnership, a breakfast event will be held at the CWA Hall on July 5, 2025, coinciding with the International Day of Co-operatives. This event also aligns with the International Year of Cooperatives and Mutuals, a global initiative recognising the positive impact of member-led organisations on communities, economies, and social wellbeing. The community is invited to join us as we discuss the value of mutuals and educate attendees on how co-operatives can help small towns thrive, even when larger businesses leave. For Dungog, this collaboration is more than symbolic—it underscores the strength of local solutions. As you know, The Mutual Bank has been the only remaining bank branch in Dungog since the last of the ‘big four’ closed its doors about five years ago and removed its ATMs. Individuals and local businesses now have to drive 35 minutes to do any face-to-face banking with these larger institutions. In contrast, our member-owned Mutual Bank continues to operate a full-service branch six days a week, maintains the town's only main street ATM, and ensures residents and small businesses have access to essential financial services. “When others left, we stayed,” said Mark Williams, CEO of The Mutual Bank. “Our commitment has always been to support the communities that support us. Partnering with Dungog Wholefood Co-op aligns perfectly with our values—it's about locals investing in locals and creating long-term value for the entire town.” The Dungog Wholefood Co-op was established by a dedicated group of locals passionate about where food comes from, how it is produced, and how those who make it are treated. Prioritising small local and regional producers and makers, the co-op takes what is seasonal and fresh and pays fairly for it, helping to overcome supply chain challenges such as difficult weather, economic upheaval, and biosecurity risks. The strength of this approach was exemplified by the co-op’s uninterrupted supply of local eggs during the recent shortages. Members have a say in the running of the co-op, and all profits are returned back into improving the business and providing benefits to its members, including discounts on every single purchase. Last year, the Co-op gave back $42,215 in the form of member discounts. “Fair food means food that’s good for people, good for the planet, and fair for the farmers who grow it,” said Graham Creed, Director at Dungog Wholefood Co-op. “Our partnership with The Mutual Bank reflects shared values—community ownership, economic self-reliance, and mutual support. That’s the strength of Dungog. Having a local branch, with real people we know and trust, adds enormous value to our Co-op. Whether it’s banking advice or a quick dash to swap change, the support we get from the branch team makes a real difference.” Highlighting the broader significance of such collaborations, Melina Morrison, CEO of the Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals (BCCM), stated: “Cooperatives and mutuals are vital in building strong, resilient communities. In times of change and challenge, they provide stability and empower local people to take control of their futures. The partnership between The Mutual Bank and Dungog Wholefood Co-op exemplifies how community-led initiatives can drive positive, lasting change.” Throughout 2025, we will collaborate on community education, local events, and initiatives that raise awareness about the power of mutual and cooperative models to deliver real, long-term value. The breakfast event on July 5 will be the first of many opportunities for the community to engage with and learn about the benefits of cooperatives and mutuals.

At The Mutual Bank we are dedicated to safeguarding our Members from scams and fraud.  As part of this commitment, we are working to introduce the Scam-Safe Accord, a joint initiative by Customer Owned Banking (COBA) the Australian Banking Authority (ABA).  The Scam-Safe Accord aims to protect Australian consumers and small businesses through principles of disrupt, detect, and respond.  A key initiative of this is the Confirmation of Payee (COP) service which is a solution to verify payee details when making a payment or transferring money.  The Confirmation of Payee (CoP) service, an industry-wide initiative by Australian Payments Plus (AP+) adds a new layer of protection for our Members. It helps verify payee details when making a payment or transferring money, ensuring that you are sending the money to the right place.  You can learn more about this new service, including reading some Frequently Asked Questions here.

In a world of change, Lyn Maber has been banking with The Mutual Bank for almost 60 years - and 44 of those years at the East Maitland Branch. She helped The Mutual Bank CEO Mark Williams cut the ribbon on Tuesday 3 June 2025 to officially open our newly-renovated branch on George Street East Maitland. Mark said the bank’s vision was to create a modern and functional environment that customers would love, and teams would enjoy working in. “Our passion for service shines through every aspect of our business,” Mark said. “We are committed to providing exceptional personal service in our branches, and this newly renovated branch is a testament to that commitment. This contemporary, state-of-the-art facility brings a fresh, modern feel for our Members, and for our Branch Team.” Ms Maber said she loves her new-look branch and was happy to continue her long stint of banking locally. “I’ve been with The Mutual Bank since I was about 18, and I am nearly 77!” she proudly exclaimed. “It’s the service, the friendliness that keeps me coming back. “I have been a member since I was in my late teens and back then it was a branch in Church Street Maitland. “When the East Maitland Branch opened [in 1981] I started to come here, and I’ve always stuck with them as they've always looked after me. “Only recently I needed some help with my cards because of scammers, and the service I received was extra special.“ One of the exciting new features of the renovated branch is a special area dedicated to community organisations. “We believe in supporting our community, and this space is available for local charities, sporting organisations and fundraising groups to use during branch hours,” said Mark. “They can bring in posters, set up a laptop, and engage with people who visit the branch about their upcoming events or initiatives. This is our way of giving back and fostering a strong sense of community.” Mark praised the architects, ARCH, and builders Collaborative Construction Solutions for making the vision of a new branch a reality with a seamless project.“Their expertise and dedication have been instrumental in bringing this project to life," he said. “Most importantly, we thank our Members for their patience and continued support during the construction period and we hope they enjoy the new look and features of their branch.”