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With millions of Australians set to share personal information as part of the upcoming Census, we are urging members to stay alert to scams impersonating the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). This year, Census night will take place on Tuesday, 11 August 2026. Many households will have already received a paper letter with instructions to complete the form online, or through paper forms if preferred. "If you're contacted about the Census, take a moment to verify the email, phone call, text, or form before responding with your personal details. Scammers often take advantage of major events and impersonate government organisations to target unsuspecting Australians. A few extra seconds of caution can make all the difference,” advised COBA’s Head of Financial Crimes and Cyber Resilience Martin Latimer. What is the Census? Conducted every five years, the Census provides a snapshot of Australia's population and housing by counting every person and household across the country. This data is used to inform policy on important issues including business, infrastructure, transport, schooling, and healthcare. The Census form asks questions such as age, cultural background, work, country of birth, and education. Importantly, it does not ask for bank account or credit card details, tax file numbers, passwords, or identity documents such as passports or driver's licences. Australians will never be offered prizes, rewards or incentives for completing the Census. Any such offer should be treated as a potential scam. Under the Census and Statistics Act 1905, completing the Census is compulsory. What are signs of genuine Census communications? A common tactic used by scammers is to impersonate reputable government agencies to create a false sense of legitimacy and trust. If you are approached by anyone claiming to be from the ABS, remember that genuine staff must carry an ABS identification card while undertaking Census work. They also wear a bright yellow satchel. Genuine Census letters will display the ABS logo in the top-left corner. Paper forms will include a Reply Paid envelope with the address: Reply Paid 93909, DANDENONG VIC 3175. Census-related emails, including Census login details and security codes, will only be sent from official email addresses ending in @abs.gov.au. Generally, they will only be sent to people who have provided their details online and requested a response. Similarly, the ABS will only send an SMS message if someone has requested Census login details or security codes. They will come from the sender ID ‘CENSUS’. Any messages from sender IDs that display ‘Unverified’ or other names is likely to be a scam. Unsure if this is a Census-related scam? If in doubt, members are urged not to click any unsolicited links regarding the Census or the ABS. Instead, visit the official ABS website in a new browser to contact them directly. You can report any suspicious emails, phone calls, or messages via Scamwatch or by contacting the ABS Support Line on 1300 100 557. 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 on 1300 364 400. A timely response can be critical in giving you the best chance to stem any loss. To help yourself and others stay scam-safe, keep in mind the simple, three-step “Stop. Check. Protect” method – take a moment before giving your money or personal information to anyone, make sure the person or organisation you’re dealing with is real, and act quickly if something feels wrong. 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.

Observed annually on 12 August, International Youth Day celebrates the energy, ambition and resilience of young people around the world. This year’s theme, ‘Different Contexts, Common Aspirations’, recognises that while young people may face different challenges, they share many of the same goals: opportunity, security, education, meaningful work and a brighter future. This emphasises how it’s more important than ever to equip them with the skills they need to thrive, one of these being the gift of a strong foundation in financial skills and literacy. As we celebrate our young people, here are five useful habits to make sure your kids and teenagers have the right foundations to build wealth and financial security. Create a savings account Making regular deposits into a savings account is a great way to learn about discipline and the power of compound interest. Consider setting up a customer-owned bank account with your child or teenager to show them the rewards of saving regularly. Today’s apps allow customers to engage with the process in real time, which means they can watch their savings grow without having to wait for a statement. Build a rainy day or emergency fund A rainy day or emergency fund teaches kids that while unexpected things can happen in life, having a small buffer can sometimes help soften the blow. Think about encouraging kids to separate their savings into different categories for different occasions, including one for surprise costs. Look to superannuation early For working tweens and teens, retirement is usually decades away, which often means retirement is one of the last things on their mind. However, building some awareness of super can help with general savings knowledge and long-term planning. A good start is making sure they’re paid the right amount of super if working and are not overpaying on fees. Get budgeting A budget helps differentiate between ‘wants’ and ‘needs’ and can be useful for teenagers and adults. Consider working through budgeting apps with your kids and creating a savings competition or including them in the household budgeting. Practice scam awareness While young people under 16 in Australia are restricted from platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, Twitch, YouTube, and Reddit, it’s still important for them to understand scam safety if they come across fraudulent behavior online. This includes topics like understanding the signs of a phishing attempt, good password hygiene, and how to stop, check, protect – pausing before giving money or personal information to anyone, making sure the person or organisation they are dealing with is real, and acting quickly if something feels wrong. With a gentle nudge, young people can combine their digital skills with money awareness to build habits for life.

Yesterday, 8 July, marked International Paramedics Day, a global day of recognition celebrating the dedication, resilience and compassion of paramedics and first responders who provide life-saving care in communities around the world. Launched in 2022, International Paramedics Day is recognised by ambulance services, healthcare organisations and professional bodies worldwide. In Australia, it is supported by the Australasian College of Paramedicine and the Council of Ambulance Authorities, bringing the profession together to celebrate the critical role paramedics play in providing high-quality patient care.This year's theme, "Innovate & Integrate," recognises the many ways paramedics continue to advance patient care through innovation, research, education, digital technology and stronger collaboration across the healthcare system to meet the evolving needs of their communities. At Unity Bank, we acknowledge the dedication and professionalism of paramedics and first responders who care for our communities every day. Across Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, more than 23,000 registered paramedics and more than 11,000 trained volunteer first responders provide expert care in some of the most challenging and unpredictable environments, working across road, air, industrial, defence, humanitarian and community healthcare settings. Supporting NSW Ambulance Unity Bank is proud to continue a long-standing relationship with NSW Ambulance through the legacy of G&C Mutual Bank, including sponsorship of the NSW Ambulance Employee of the Month and Employee of the Year Awards for more than a decade.  As we reflect on International Paramedics Day, we thank all paramedics and first responders for their professionalism, resilience and unwavering commitment to caring for our communities. Their dedication makes a lasting difference every day.

Tax time often means Australians have more contact from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) or myGov, something scammers are quick to exploit. "Scammers target tax season because they know people expect to hear from official agencies, so they use fake messages about unexpected refunds or urgent debts to trick you into sharing personal details or to make payments,” the Customer Owned Banking Association’s (COBA) Head of Financial Crimes and Cyber Resilience Martin Latimer said. To help you protect your money and personal information this tax season, COBA’s Financial Crimes and Cyber Resilience team shares common tax scams to watch for, the warning signs to look out for, and simple steps you can take to stay safe.   ATO impersonation scams Tax scams often involve scammers impersonating trusted government services, including the ATO, myGov and myID. They may contact you by phone, email, SMS, social media or fake websites, trying to trick you into sharing personal information such as your tax file number (TFN), myGov username, password or bank details. Scammers may also send phishing messages that include suspicious links, QR codes or attachments designed to steal your information or install malicious software. If you are unsure whether contact is genuine, do not reply, click links or download attachments. To combat tax time scams, the ATO has launched a verify call feature in the ATO app to help taxpayers confirm, in real time, whether a call claiming to be from the ATO is genuine. If you receive a call from someone claiming to be from the ATO, open the ATO app, log in and select verify call. If the app does not confirm the call, treat it as suspicious and hang up.   Urgency, threats and pressure tactics Scammers rely on pressure to make people act before they have time to think. Be wary of messages or calls that threaten arrest, legal action, account suspension or cancellation of your tax file number, or that tell you not to speak with your tax agent. Stay calm, end the interaction and verify the claim independently through official channels. Demands for payment by gift cards, cryptocurrency or unusual methods Scammers often create fear and urgency by claiming there is a warrant for your arrest, an unpaid tax debt or an immediate fine. They may ask you to pay using gift cards, cryptocurrency, cash delivery, prepaid cards or personal or offshore bank accounts. These payment methods are difficult to trace and are a major red flag. The ATO will never ask you to pay a tax debt or fine using gift cards, cryptocurrency or other unusual payment methods.   Requests for an ‘admin fee’ to receive a refund Another common scam involves a call, email, or message claiming you are entitled to a refund for overpaid tax. The scammer may pretend to be from the ATO or another government body and claim you need to pay an administration fee or an upfront cost before your refund can be released. The ATO will never ask you to pay a fee to receive a tax refund.   What to do if something feels suspicious Always remember to “Stop. Check. Protect.” If you receive a suspicious call, SMS, email or social media message, do not reply, click links, download attachments or share personal information. If you encounter a potential scam, report it to Scamwatch to help protect others. If you have shared information or lost money, contact your bank or financial institution immediately and report the incident through official channels. Customer-owned banks are committed to safeguarding customers from scams and fraud. In November 2023, the sector joined forces to launch the Scam-Safe Accord with the Australian Banking Association. This industry-wide initiative reflects a united effort to disrupt scammers, strengthen consumer protection and help Australians stay safer online.   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.

  Unity Bank unveils new brand identity, bringing members together under one united future Unity Bank today announced the launch of its new brand identity, marking a significant milestone in the organisation’s evolution as a leading customer-owned bank. The new brand brings together the strengths, heritage and shared values of its member communities under a single, modern Unity Bank identity.The new brand reflects Unity Bank’s commitment to delivering a simpler, more connected banking experience while remaining true to its customer-owned principles. The launch introduces a contemporary visual identity, enhanced digital experiences and a unified approach designed to better serve members across Australia.“Our new brand represents more than a new look – it reflects who we are, what we stand for and where we are headed,” said Rosanna Argall, Chief Executive Officer of Unity Bank. “As a customer-owned bank, our focus remains firmly on our members. This new identity positions us to deliver even greater value, innovation and service while preserving the personal relationships and community focus that define Unity Bank.”The new brand came together after an exhaustive process of focus groups with members, non-members and employees and follows the successful integration of all systems following the merger in March 2025.  The launch also reflects Unity Bank’s vision of creating a stronger, more efficient organisation capable of investing in better products, enhanced digital capabilities and improved member experiences.Key features of the new brand include: A modern visual identity designed to reflect the values and heritage of three strong legacy brands A unified online and mobile banking experience Enhanced accessibility and streamlined member interactions Continued commitment to enhancing our impact on our members, our communities and the planet Ongoing investment in innovative banking solutions While the brand identity is changing, Unity Bank’s core purpose remains unchanged: helping members achieve their financial goals and our commitment to ‘standing with you’ no matter what and always being there to support our members on their financial journey.“This is an exciting new chapter for our organisation,” added Rosanna Argall. “We are building on a strong legacy while creating a stronger future for our members, communities and employees.”The new Unity Bank brand will be rolled out across digital channels, branches, communications and member touchpoints progressively from 11 June 2026. Rosanna ArgallChief Executive Officer

Members are advised of updates to our Account and Access Facilities Terms and Conditions, effective 11 June 2026.   Key changes include: New brand contact details and other references to naming to accommodate the consolidation of our three brands. New information for upcoming requirements involving Comprehensive Credit Reporting. Further information will be provided on this in due course. New information for Biometric Identification to accommodate new functionality making it easier for members to complete online verification of identity. New section for Visa Click to Pay, a new secure online checkout option coming soon for members. Updates to Vulnerable Members section to expand our support for affected members. ​ While we have provided an overview of the key changes, we recommend you take the time to read through the updated Account and Access Facilities Terms and Conditions to familiarise yourself with the changes and understand how they may impact you.   By using your account and access facilities after the date the changes take effect, you agree to the updated terms and conditions applying.   We’re ready to help you If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us.