08 Dec Calliope and District Community Bank gives back to the community
That was the attitude of many people in Calliope about 12 years ago, but around 280 local residents believed in the concept of Community Banking and bought shares in Calliope and District Enterprises, Ltd.
In 2009 we opened the doors of the Calliope and District Community Bank® Branch of Bendigo Bank.
Eight years on, we are finally being recognized not only as a full-service bank, fully supported by Bendigo Bank, the fifth largest bank in Australia, but also as a champion of community investment.
Today, with the support of the people who use the bank for their home loans, insurance, savings and credit cards, we are able to share our profits between dividends to the shareholders (7{7a2eb471754f58cbf59baa93ee81dc7b74d186cb2e306188f39c85ba863dbab8} this year) and grants, sponsorships and donations to local groups and community events.
The directors of the Enterprise are passionate about our community, and to date we have been able to inject more than $1.4 million back to the Gladstone Region: you can find our financial footprint from Boyne Valley to Gladstone, and Mt Larcom to Boyne- Tannum . And it all comes from you, the people of the area who bank with the Calliope and District Community Bank® Branch of Bendigo Bank.
This year we are again offering two scholarships, worth $5000 per year for two years. The scholarships are open to new graduates or those who have taken a gap year. Applications are available on line, and we would encourage Gladstone Regional students who are looking at university studies to apply. More information is on the Calliope and District Community Bank® Branch website.
We are looking forward to the opening in February of the Central Queensland Drivers Education Centre, for which we gave the seed funding of $250,000 which enabled the CQ Motorsports group to apply to the State Government for further funding. We anticipate that further support from the Calliope and District Community Bank® Branch and our insurance company in the future will give incentive to young drivers to use the centre to make them safer drivers.
As Chair of this wonderful community company, thank you to all of our customers and shareholders. You really are leading the way when it comes to change in our community.
