bankmecu has in place various initiatives to assist in building capacity, socially entrepreneurial initiative, self-sufficiency and resilience within the communities it serves.
bankmecu is committed to providing up to 4% of budgeted after-tax profits to support community investment through its Community Investment Program. The objective of the Community Investment Program is to support activities that make a contribution to resolving relevant economic, social and environmental problems thereby making a positive, measurable and sustainable difference to society. The program targets key areas identified through stakeholder engagement to reflect the values, interests and attitudes of bankmecu customers, including: Environment, Housing, Community resilience and International development. bankmecu achieved target in 2010/11, with a 4.15% spend ($1.141m).
During 2010/11, bankmecu has made a $406,000 investment in carbon sequestration and biodiversity with the bankmecu Conservation Landbank. Its community resilience investments support education, regional development, alleviation of disadvantage and affordable housing. bankmecu also supports affordable housing through its commercial lending and international development of credit cooperatives to empower communities.
Staff “casual” days supported a number of charitable enterprises, raising $5,041.40. Staff payroll giving raised a further $3,498 to support the CUFA Village Entrepreneurs Program in Cambodia and four World Vision Children.
bankmecu launched a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) at Spring Gully Primary School in Bendigo on 18 November 2010. bankmecu’s RAP was developed in collaboration with Reconciliation Australia to provide a framework for making a public contribution towards the national effort to “close the gap” between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians. The RAP identifies clear actions and realistic targets guided by three principles outlined by Reconciliation Australia: Relationships, Respect and Opportunities.
bankmecu has in place a Board adopted Financial Inclusion Policy to reduce financial exclusion and improve access to financial products and services across identified potentially disadvantaged groups.
Spotlight - CUFA International Leadership Challenges
Spotlight - bankmecu Landbank activity
Spotlight - ACF New Economics Program
Spotlight - Kyabra Community Association LivingIn Program
Spotlight - Regional development
Spotlight - VCOSS Clearinghouse