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What’s New Enjoy an enhanced online experience with a seamless, user-friendly, and modern interface. Although the design is fresh, our core values and commitment to your financial security and success remain the same. For Reliance Bank Members, if you have previously bookmarked the Reliance Bank website URL, don't worry! You can continue to access the new website via www.reliancebank.com.au, and be seamlessly redirected to the updated experience at www.unitybank.com.au. The website now features Reliance Bank information and contact details in conjunction with the Unity Bank brand. Internet Banking The website has clearly marked separate login buttons for Unity Bank and Reliance Bank Internet Banking in the top-right corner, which operate the same as they do now. Why Did We Move to One Website? The costs involved in maintaining two websites are significant, and we are conscious that it is your money as a member-owned bank. The products and services are the same for Reliance Bank and Unity Bank, so it makes sense not to duplicate the costs and resources involved in maintaining two websites. Support and Contact Information Contact details, branch addresses, and member support information for both Unity Bank and Reliance Bank are prominently displayed on the website, ensuring easy access to assistance when needed. If you have any questions or need assistance exploring the new website, please do not hesitate to contact us on 1300 36 2000.

Did you know you may be eligible for a Repayment Holiday on your variable home loan? A Repayment Holiday is when you’ve built up enough buffer with your funds (available redraw) from making extra repayments on your home loan. This buffer allows you to stop or reduce the amount of loan repayments as the available redraw can cover your scheduled home loan payments. Our Repayment Holiday option enables you to take a break from your mortgage loan repayments for up to six months and gives you more flexibility to suit changes to your lifestyle, whether they're planned or unplanned. It allows you to free up funds to use as you wish - to take a holiday or purchase a large item. By drawing down on the advanced status of your loan for the holiday period at its completion you will simply return to your scheduled repayments. Case Study Graham and Belinda took out a home loan three years ago to purchase their home. Over the last two years they have been paying more than their required repayment amount every fortnight. Consequently, the extra funds have built up over time and now they have a substantial amount of advanced funds (over repayments) sitting in their home loan. Belinda is now pregnant and plans to take nine months maternity leave, however her job will only pay her for three months. Graham and Belinda want to maintain a similar level of income after Belinda has the baby, so they contact us and arrange to put their home loan repayments on hold for six months once the baby is born. During that time we'll use the extra amount in their advances to deduct the home loan repayments. So, after the six months, the total pool of available advances will be less. It's important that during the six month Repayment Holiday period Graham and Belinda don't make any significant redraws. If they do it may mean that they'll need to increase their fortnightly repayments when the Repayment Holiday is over, in order to repay the loan within the agreed term. View All Home Loans

Two Unity Bank employees, Erika and Issac, had the opportunity to attend and represent Unity Bank at the 2023 Trundle Bush Tucker Day on 2 September 2023. It is a beloved Australian festival for the whole family to enjoy. Read about Erika’s experience: “Issac Theobald, myself with my husband tagging along as a driver, went out to be a part of the Trundle Bush Tucker Day event. This was held at the Trundle Showground arena. The weather put on a spectacular show, which encouraged good participation from many in the community. They had live entertainment on the centre stage with various singers throughout the day, and vendor stalls were positioned to create an alleyway moving down towards the centre stage. The type of vendors participating in the festivities included local blacksmiths, metal garden art stalls, country clothing and bootwear, and a group of arts and craft stalls selling homemade food items and kitchen apparel. Along the perimeter of the showground, large fire pits were being manned to provide stations for the bush ovens where various bush tucker recipes were being cooked, along with some smaller ground oven pits with large pots offering a variety of dishes. They also had the Australian National Female whip cracking champion who had just returned from the World Championships where she was placed 3rd. She had whip-cracking displays throughout the day, entertaining the crowds. She was amazing and very skilled at her craft. Adult ticket price was set at $50 a single ticket with $5 for children under 16yrs. All profit funds for the day were to be distributed back into the Trundle Community, supporting local groups such as Trundle Men’s Shed, Trundle Pony Club, and the Country Women’s Association groups in Trundle. I had two local community members approach me to tell me how much they appreciated having Unity Bank in their community, noting the distances they would need to travel to do their banking if we were not in town. Supporting events like the Trundle Bush Tucker Day gives weight to our commitment to smaller rural communities.” If you would like to find out more about Trundle Bush Tucker Day, visit their Facebook page.

We are urging our Members to be cautious of investments promised via Facebook Marketplace. Scammers via Facebook Marketplace use a variety of tactics to manipulate buyers and sellers of the platform, often disguising themselves as one or the other. These scammers often send emails or text messages that reflect an investment scheme asking you to click on a link to find out more.   Possible scenario Fake emails are sent to Marketplace sellers that look like they’re from a payment service such as PayPal confirming a payment has been made for the product you are selling. However, no payment has been made, and the scammer has received the product for ‘free’.   How to protect yourself from this type of scam Take time to read suspicious emails or text messages (scammers often use urgency as a tactic to trick you into giving money or personal information). Check the email thoroughly (these emails often mention a problem that needs a solution quickly). Check the facts and details before taking action. Do not send any personal data or information (often these scammers use profile pictures of employees in a familiar business to convince you of their legitimacy). If you believe you have been scammed, call us immediately on 1300 36 2000.

Seniors are being targeted by scammers through a fake website requesting money and multiple forms of personal identification. In some instances, scammers are calling the elderly and offering the discount card and asking for personal information over the phone. How this scam works Fake websites/cold phone calls claiming to supply senior discount card membership for a fee. Fraudulent websites are charging around $29 (application processing fee) for the discount card and allege to be “officially approved”. Scammers steal personal information and use this on other platforms to commit identify fraud. What to look out for Seniors card membership is free of charge and so seniors should never be asked to pay a membership or application fee. If you are being asked for bank, credit card, PayPal details (or any other personal information) in exchange for membership then this is a scam. Top tips to avoid scams STOP – take your time before providing any personal information. THINK – ask yourself if the message could be fake? PROTECT – act quickly if something feels wrong. If you have provided information, contact IDCARE (on 1800 595 160) and report scams to Scamwatch.  Alternatively, call us immediately on 1300 36 2000.  

Winter sunshine flooded Longmuir Playing Fields on in July for the annual CFMEU Miner’s Cup rugby league shield primary school carnival, where close to 350 young players turned out for a day of fun competition. Unity Bank along with Westfund and Mine Super are supporters of the Gala Day and went along to show their support for the local communities with showbags for all the participants. St Xavier’s School, Gunnedah, claimed the coveted shield, with a quinella in the open boys’ division won by the Dragons team, with the Eels runners-up. The league tag championship went to Gunnedah South Public School, with a team from Walgett Community College Primary School the runners-up in their debut performance at the carnival. The Player of the Day Kerry Dennis played her heart out for Walgett, where the team left at 5am to make it in time for the carnival. Organiser Ross Whittaker was pleased with the number of players turning out for a day of league in perfect weather. We had at least 100 more players than last year and apart from a break during COVID, the competition has been running for about 30 years,” he said. The original concept was to give small schools especially the chance to enjoy a gala day with the opportunity to field a team by combining players from nearby small schools. Special thanks must go to the Mining & Energy Union, Unity Bank, Westfund and Mine super plus all associated sponsors who make this day possible every year.” Representatives from the Westpac Rescue Helicopter were on hand during the day, to remind spectators of its value in a crisis. “When there has been an accident there is no better sound than the sound of a chopper flying in to help,” Ross said. “The Mining and Energy Union members contribute more than a million dollars to the chopper each year through workplace contributions with a further million dollars donated by other means.” Players came from Werris Creek, Bingara, Barraba, St Michael’s Manilla, Narrabri, Gunnedah Public, Gunnedah South, St Xavier’s, Walgett, Boggabri and for the first time Carinya Gunnedah fielded a team. Every player received a Steedon football, courtesy of NSW Country League, with the winners awarded trophies and the runners-up a medallion. A great day was had by all participants and everyone is looking forward to next year where they will strive to take out the CFMEU Miner’s Cup rugby league shield 2024. Story provided by Marie Hobson – Gunnedah Times