Customer Owned Banking Association

Yesterday we celebrated International Credit Union Day, a time to recognise our collective efforts to champion a people-first, purpose-led banking model. This year's theme "One World Through Cooperative Finance" acknowledges how in an increasingly divided world, credit unions across the globe stand united in their commitment to collective and sustainable growth. This day is a powerful reminder of the positive change credit unions bring—whether through strengthening regional economies, supporting grassroots organisations, or offering ethical, member-focused banking. Let’s take a moment to recognise their role in building a more inclusive financial future for everyone. To mark the occasion, some of the COBA staff were sporting their #ICUDay pins from the Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions! #customerownedbanking #choosecustomerowned

Customer-owned banks are significantly outpacing major banks in supporting local communities, according to the newly released Customer Owned Banking 2024 Impact Report. The report reveals credit unions and mutual banks are giving back to their communities nearly nine times more than the major banks. This commitment to social impact is coupled with competitive financial offerings, as customer-owned banks consistently provide strong rates and products whilst delivering market-leading customer satisfaction over the past two decades. “This International Credit Union Day, we are proud to showcase the incredible impact customer-owned banks have on Australia. Not only do members enjoy competitive rates and better services, but they also benefit from knowing their local communities are being strengthened,” COBA CEO Mike Lawrence said. COBA Chair Elizabeth Crouch AM and Chief Operating Officer Stephanie Elliott were joined by senior representatives from local COBA members BankWAW, gmcu., Central Murray Credit Union Limited, and Hume Bank in Albury to launch the report. Read the full report and media release here: https://bit.ly/3NqCx9v/ #customerownedbanking #choosecustomerowned #icuday2024

Rewind back to one week ago in Adelaide for #COBA24 and relive the excitement through our highlights video ⏪. A big thank you to all our sponsors and exhibitors who play a crucial role in the success of this event. Their support is instrumental in creating a memorable experience for our delegates, and we look forward to building on these relationships for the years ahead. Be sure to mark 10 to 12 August 2025 in your calendars for COBA25 in Brisbane! https://lnkd.in/gT5GHSEC #customerownedbanking #ignitethefuture

All good things come to an end. The final day of #COBA24 was opened and closed by two prominent Australians, Rosie Batty AO and Craig Foster AM, both powerful voices in their own advocacy areas of domestic violence campaigning and human rights activism. Our delegates were moved by their powerful talks and left feeling inspired to make a real difference in the lives of their customers and communities. We want to give a huge thank you to our speakers, facilitators, MCs, sponsors, exhibitors and event staff who made this year's Convention a significant success. We're grateful for the 1,088 delegates from across the industry who united for customer-owned banking's biggest event the year. We hope you're feeling inspired and energised to explore, innovate, and "Ignite the Future"."

It was an insightful first day of plenaries and business sessions at #COBA24. Our speakers and panels explored a range of intriguing topics impacting customer-owned banking. Some key moments were: - Learning how innovation and technology will reshape the financial services sector. - Discovering practical strategies on how to leverage AI for community-focused financial wellness. - Decoding the demographic shifts transforming Australia. - Our fireside chat with the regulatory bodies governing our industry - and so much more! We'd like to thank our speakers, facilitators and MC Effie Zahos for an inspiring first day.

Adam Karayiannis, Management Accountant at IMB Bank is the 2024 COBA Emerging Leader Award recipient, proudly sponsored by Bridges Financial Services. Receiving this award is a testament to Adam's unwavering commitment to surpassing expectations and driving positive change within his team, organisation, and the customers they serve. The Emerging Leader award has been sponsored by Bridges for the past 22 years, helping COBA recognise and empower the outstanding young talent in the customer-owned banking sector. We thank Bridges for their continued partnership in this flagship award. Congratulations Adam!

#COBA24 kicked off on Sunday with the biggest cohort of Emerging Leaders to attend Convention since the program started over 20 years ago! We were joined by 88 bright young professionals from 29 COBA member organisations for a day of sessions focused on enhancing their leadership potential and building relationships within the sector. It was a great start to Convention with much more to come! A big thank you to CGU Insurance for their continued support sponsoring this vital program.

COBA CEO Michael Lawrence, and recently appointed Chair of the World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) (WOCCU), sat down for an interview on The Global Credit Union podcast to discuss his new role as Chair and the challenges credit unions face globally. Key takeaways from the conversation are: 🌎 Global advocacy for credit unions: Influencing regulatory bodies to consider the unique needs of credit unions, advocating for proportional regulation, and ensuring smaller credit unions are not adversely impacted by regulations designed for larger banks. ⚖️ Challenges of regulatory burden: There's a need for a balanced regulatory approach that ensures financial stability without stifling competition or hindering the growth of smaller credit unions. 💡 Focus on financial inclusion and younger members: WOCCU's work in promoting financial inclusion in developing countries and addressing the aging demographic of credit union membership is crucial. Listen for yourself here: https://bit.ly/4eqRR1c

Did former Prime Minister John Howard make a speech at the WOCCU conference in Sydney in 1979? The Australian Mutuals Archives can confirm, yes he did! Take a look at this bulletin recap from the event dating 45 years back. The Australian Mutuals Archive exists to preserve and promote the unique and important history of the credit union and mutual banking movement in Australia. Much like a library or state archives catalogue, the archives boast a collection of approximately 40,000 records that preserve the work and legacy of customer owned banks. You can learn more about the Australian Mutuals Archives and how to support their important work, and how COBA members can access and use their materials for their own storytelling here: https://lnkd.in/gJ5_NssX Australian Mutual Archives will also be exhibiting at COBA's 2024 Convention in Adelaide, so be sure to stop by and deepen your knowledge on the history of the sector.

We’re excited to have #QBE participate once again as a Gold Sponsor at this year’s COBA Convention. Don’t miss the opportunity to stop by their stand to find out how they can support your journey towards resilience through transformation. #QBELMI #QBE #COBA24