News

The Mutual Bank team trust all our Members are keeping safe during the current extreme weather in the Hunter Region and parts of New South Wales.  Chief Member Officer Matthew Dunnill said The Mutual Bank Team is here to help any Member who has been impacted by rain and flooding.  “Members experiencing financial hardship, or any other banking issue, can call our team on 1300 688 825, email us at info@themutual.com.au or visit your local branch,” he said.  "We have a Financial Hardship Request Form on our website which you can fill out and email back to us, and our team will be in touch to see how we may be able to assist you. “Members who have CGU insurance can call 13 24 80 or make a claim online at cgu.com.au/claims.”    The SES have recommended Live Traffic to keep you updated on road conditions and in particular road closures. It can be accessed here. The NSW SES, ABC Newcastle radio and the Port Stephens, Maitland and Cessnock Councils have regular updates on their websites and Facebook feeds.  The safety of our staff is paramount and some branches may be closed during lunch breaks.  Anyone who has experienced damage from the rain or has floodwater threatening their property, please call the State Emergency Service on 132 500. Call 000 in an emergency.

Almost a third of Australian veterans who have served our nation return home to face severe hardship, isolation, and mental health challenges. That’s a startling statistic from Taskforce Veteran, an organisation dedicated to empowering Australian Defence Force (ADF) veterans. When the organisation reached out to see if we could help, our Chief Digital and Technology Officer Josh Hessel had the perfect project. The Mutual Bank donated 20 refurbished computers and associated equipment for Taskforce Veteran to pass on to veterans and to use in its Cessnock Houses project which aims to address veteran homelessness by offering free crisis accommodation. "We are so proud to support Taskforce Veteran through this donation as it aligns perfectly with our values and our sponsorship initiatives which aim to make a positive impact in our community,” said Josh. “We believe in giving back to the community and supporting organisations that share our values, and we could not be more pleased this equipment will get a new lease on life by really helping these veterans and their families.” Brett Wild, Chairman of Taskforce Veteran, shared his gratitude for the donation. "This donation from The Mutual Bank means a great deal to us,” he said. “We are passionate about creating a brighter future for Australia’s veterans by fostering connection and offering safe, inclusive spaces for ADF members. “These computers will significantly enhance our ability to provide tangible support to veterans and their families. The computers will mean the veterans can stay socially connected, look for work and apply for jobs, upskill and access support services. “We are incredibly thankful for The Mutual Bank’s generosity and commitment to our cause." Taskforce Veteran’s initiatives help reduce isolation, restore self-worth, and actively promote mental well-being among the veteran community. The organisation also advocates for veterans, raising public awareness about their unique challenges and significant contributions to Australia's history. Taskforce Veteran's programs include community education and advocacy, creating collaborative environments, and preserving Australian military history. Their initiatives, such as the Scheyville Project and the Military Armoured Restoration Society (MARS), play a vital role in linking veterans, communities, and military history. You can learn more about their important work including the Cessnock Houses Project, here.

We are thrilled to announce that our East Maitland Branch has reopened after a major renovation! At The Mutual Bank, our passion for service shines through every aspect of our business. We are committed to providing exceptional personal service in our branches, and our newly renovated East Maitland Branch is a testament to that commitment. This contemporary, state-of-the-art facility brings a fresh, modern feel for you, our Members, and for our Branch Team. The East Maitland Branch, at 110 George Street East Maitland,  is the first to be redeveloped in our Branch of the Future program. This initiative aims to create a modern and functional environment that our Members enjoy visiting and our teams enjoy working in. The new design features improved navigation and functionality, ensuring a seamless banking experience. As a customer-owned bank, our profits go back into supporting our community and providing better products and services for our Members. Our goal is to give you the best banking experience possible. We believe in offering our Members a choice. While some Members prefer to deal with us in person, an increasing number of Members choose to self-service online. To support this, we successfully implemented a Digital Loan Origination Platform in 2024. We thank our Members for their patience and continued support during the construction period. Come and visit Promise and her team and experience the new look of our East Maitland Branch!

The Mutual Bank is excited to announce its continued sponsorship of the High School Teams Challenge in the lead up to Newcastle Surfest. The teams challenge taking place on Thursday, 8 May and Friday, 9 May 2025 at South Bar Beach and draws talented young surfers from across the state. Open exclusively to NSW high schools, the competition features both boys’ and girls’ divisions, with teams of up to five surfers. The event provides a fantastic platform for young surfers to showcase their skills and teamwork – all at the start of the internationally renowned Surfest competition to be held in June. Surfest sees some of the world’s best up-and-coming surfers descend on the iconic surf break of Merewether in Newcastle as they look to qualify for the 2026 Championship Tour (CT) as Newcastle hosts the first event of the 2025 WSL Challenger Series. Matthew Dunnill, Chief Member Officer at The Mutual Bank, said the teams challenge surfing event was always a highlight on the Hunter-based bank’s sponsorship calendar. “The Mutual Bank High School Teams Challenge is a great opportunity for young surfers to gain invaluable experience and demonstrate their talent,” he said “We are proud to support an event that aligns with our commitment to helping people thrive.” There is no entry fee for the event and prizes will be awarded to schools that reach the final, with the format to include two non-elimination rounds before the knockout rounds begin. Each team can have a maximum of 5 surfers with only 3 surfers competing in each heat. Surfest is the largest surfing festival in the Southern Hemisphere, bringing together amateur and professional surfers for 17 days of thrilling competition.

The Mutual Bank holds a cherished place in the hearts of the Hunter community, and our new brand campaign beautifully captures this sentiment.  With its catchy tune, our “Make it yours” campaign is set to become a beloved anthem as it graces tv screens and various advertising platforms.  This campaign is more than just an advertisement, it’s a celebration of our community and the unique bond we share with our Members, helping them achieve their goals and to thrive.  At the very heart of it, the “Make It Yours” campaign is about the customer-owned banking model and the pride we have in being a mutual organisation. What is a mutual bank? Well, when you join The Mutual Bank, you're not just a customer – you become a Member. This means you have a stake in the organisation and a voice in how it operates. You are part of something bigger, a community that values your input and cares about your well-being.  Our profits are not just numbers on a balance sheet; they are reinvested back into improving products and services for you and supporting grassroots community organisations. From local footy clubs to cultural events, our profits go back into supporting our community. When you bank with The Mutual Bank, you are supporting your local community, helping businesses grow, and creating local employment opportunities.  We are proud to be part of the community we serve.  The “Make it yours” campaign also highlights the beauty of the Hunter Region and features some of our valued Members. You'll see stunning locations like the river at Morpeth, Maitland Levee, Maitland netball courts at Maitland Park, Dungog Wholefood Co-Operative, and cross-code superstar Sheridan Gallagher with Maitland Football Club juniors. We also showcase local businesses SRH Milk Haulage in Rutherford and Elbourne Wines in Pokolbin.  Our wonderful Team Members are also featured in the campaign.  The campaign is set to an original song called "Yours to Love," which perfectly captures the essence of our message. The “Make it yours” campaign is all about our connection with the community and how we help both our Members and the community to thrive. With themes like "Your Life, Your Freedom, Your Memories, Your Team, Your Passion," The Mutual Bank can truly “make it yours”.  We collaborated with Jamie Lewis, a seasoned Hunter-based Creative Director with more than 22 years of experience, to bring this campaign to life. Jamie has a proven track record of helping clients achieve their goals and drive growth across various industries, including finance, housing, retail, heavy industry, and education.  Join us in celebrating our community and the people who make it special. 

The Mutual Bank has joined the fight for a better deal to meet the increasing costs of helping its regional customers who need access to cash, and trained assistance in dealing with scams and fraud. Our CEO Mark Williams said The Mutual Bank’s seven branches play a key role in supporting the communities it serves but, like many small regional banks, are challenged with avoiding becoming “pass-through” branches for the major banks. The Mutual Bank has joined an alliance of 19 regional banks calling for the introduction of a shared cost model to support the vital services provided by bank branches in regional communities such as cash handling, assistance for seniors or people with a disability and support with scams and fraud. Under a shared cost model, big banks whose regional branch investment falls short of the industry average would be required to assist. As such, the model will ensure that all banks meet or exceed those baseline expectations, either directly through their own regional branch network, or via the shared costs model. “The Mutual Bank’s purpose is to champion financial wellbeing for our Members and regional communities, to help people thrive, and our branch network plays a vital role in achieving that purpose” said Mark. “Big banks that profit most from Australia’s financial system should be required to share the cost of supporting essential regional banking infrastructure in regional, rural and remote Australia as a fundamental part of their community service obligation.  Regional bank branches are vital to these communities because they provide key services such as cash handling, advice to customers as well as help in handling scams and fraud”. “The Mutual Bank is the only bank in Dungog and Mayfield and has fulfilled a much-needed gap for those communities in being able to access essential banking services.” Mark said while the bank had seen an increase in customers and branch transactions in those locations, the challenge remained to ensure it was not simply acting as a conduit to funnel funds back to the major banks who have withdrawn their support in those communities. “Our bank branches offer secure services and personal, professional advice that cannot be replaced by post offices or ATMs,” he said. The alliance is also calling for regional banks to be a part of discussions about the future of Armaguard and cash-in-transit services which are more expensive for regional banks.