Australia’s customer owned banking sector responds to the bushfire emergency
WOCCU member organization urges customers to reach out for assistance
MADISON, WI (January 6, 2020) — Australia’s mutual banks, credit unions and building societies are expressing their deepest sympathies to those impacted by the devastating bushfire emergency across the country and stand ready to assist customers who are impacted.
Customer Owned Banking Association (COBA) CEO Michael Lawrence says Australia’s customer owned banking institutions will work with customers to help support them as they rebuild their lives and properties.
COBA is World Council of Credit Unions‘ (WOCCU) direct member in Australia, representing 72 financial institutions that serve more than four million customers.
“Australia’s customer owned banking sector has a long history of supporting its customers and communities in times of need. Customer owned banking institutions offer a range of measures to assist customers that are impacted by the bushfires, many of which continue to burn. The bushfires are devastating for individuals and communities. Our thoughts are with those whose properties and lives have been impacted, as well as for the firefighters that are working to protect lives and property,” said Lawrence, who also serves on World Council of Credit Unions’ (WOCCU) Board of Directors.
Lawrence is advising those impacted customers to contact their mutual bank, credit union or building society. Contact details can be found here.
Customer Owned Banking Association is the industry body for mutual banks, credit unions and building societies in Australia.
About World Council of Credit Unions
World Council of Credit Unions is the global trade association and development platform for credit unions. World Council promotes the sustainable development of credit unions and other financial cooperatives around the world to empower people through access to high quality and affordable financial services. World Council advocates on behalf of the global credit union system before international organizations and works with national governments to improve legislation and regulation. Its technical assistance programs introduce new tools and technologies to strengthen credit unions' financial performance and increase their outreach.
World Council has implemented 300+ technical assistance programs in 90 countries. Worldwide, 82,758 credit unions in 97 countries serve 404 million people. Learn more about World Council's impact around the world at www.woccu.org.
