Bank of Melbourne has been making a difference to local communities all over Victoria since it re-launched as Victoria’s local bank in 2011.
From homework clubs that help students stay on track in school to helping a family of Syrian refugees settle in Geelong, the local teams build relationships so the bank can provide support where it counts.
The Bank of Melbourne team in Geelong is proud to work with not-for-profit community organisation Diversitat to support its clients as they make the region home.
Diversitat supports more than 70,000 new arrivals to Victoria with services like refugee settlement, asylum seeker assistance, financial counselling and accredited training.
Through its Geelong and Colac offices, Diversitat has helped create a thriving multicultural community in the Bellarine Peninsula since 1976.
Bank of Melbourne regional executive Brendan Grenfell says his team loves to support the local community.
“Bank of Melbourne supports our customers and communities in the Geelong region to thrive. We were delighted to support the 2019 Pako Festa as a celebration of multiculturalism in Geelong and we love working with Diversitat to help new arrivals to Victoria establish their lives here,” Mr Grenfell says.
“Transitioning to a new life in Australia can be daunting, so having someone there to support you as you set up your finances can make all the difference. It might be something simple like giving customers a pre-loaded SIM card so they can register for internet banking with an Australian mobile number.”
Diversitat chief Michael Martinez sees how its programs support families every day.
“Together, we can make a difference to hundreds of families as they settle in to our vibrant community, and make the most of living in this thriving part of Victoria. It might be providing financial literacy programs with Bank of Melbourne’s help, or guiding families as the kids settle into a local school”, Mr Martinez says.
With Victoria’s population among the most culturally diverse in Australia, Bank of Melbourne has a dedicated Migrant and Multicultural Banking team that supports customers as they build their lives here. More than half of Bank of Melbourne’s 1200 staff speak more than one language. Like a quarter of Victorians, many are migrants themselves.
The bank’s local executive team and advisory board are complemented by a Multicultural Business Advisory Council of business leaders with experience in local and overseas markets. Longstanding council members Jason Yeap and Jenny McGregor were recently joined on the Council by Hall & Wilcox Partner Eugene Chen and Harcourts Victoria property management chief Victoria Sadhana Smiles.
Bank of Melbourne Chief Executive Michelle Winzer says the refreshed council shows a commitment to building long-term relationships with diverse communities.
“For Bank of Melbourne, having diverse points of view is an integral part of the way we do business. To serve the local community, our team needs to reflect the thriving multiculturalism that Victoria is famous for”, Ms Winzer says.
