Media Release

Bank of Melbourne today announced a streamlined process for customers to donate to The Salvation Army’s Emergency Appeal with a few taps on the bank’s latest app.

Launching the feature at Melbourne Food and Wine Festival’s ‘The Village Feast’ in Jindivick, Bank of Melbourne Chief Executive Michelle Winzer said the technology makes it even easier for customers to support bushfire-affected Gippsland. Visitors to The Village Feast saw an unconventional bank branch on Jindivick’s main street: one on wheels. The bank’s mobile branch, nicknamed Melba, is a familiar sight at community festivals and fetes around Victoria, and also provides banking facilities to regions affected by natural disasters.   

"We’re proud to be working with The Salvation Army to help people affected by the Gippsland fires”, Ms Winzer said. “Our teams in Pakenham and Traralgon have seen the toll the fires have taken on families, businesses and their local communities. We’ve also heard stories of incredible heroism – one of the firefighters lost his son to cancer the day before, and was still out fighting the fire and protecting the community. We’re committed to easing the load by supporting our customers with their financial commitments.”

Major Bruce Harmer from The Salvation Army said “Emergencies such as the fires we’ve been through in recent weeks occur without notice and have a devastating impact on many.  Individuals, families and whole communities are negatively impacted by such disasters and we are pleased that we are beginning a partnership with Bank of Melbourne marked by the launch of the digital donations app initiative.”

All funds raised through the app will be donated to The Salvation Army’s Emergency Appeal, contributing to their relief and recovery work in communities impacted by the recent bushfires in Gippsland. Donations of $2 or more are tax deductible.

To use the feature, customers need to have a transaction account and the latest version of the Bank of Melbourne app installed on their iPhone, iPad or Android. To make a donation, customers need to:

• Logon to the app
• Tap ‘Services’ (at the bottom of the account dashboard), then ‘Make a donation’
• Select the donation amount and the account they’d like to donate from
• Enter the security code that’s been sent to their mobile

Once the donation is complete, the customer will receive an email confirmation at their registered email address. 

The Bank of Melbourne Disaster Relief Package is available until 7 June 2019 and offers immediate, practical help to customers suffering hardship as a result of the recent fires in Eastern Victoria. The package offers various options*, including: 

• Affected customers with Bank of Melbourne home loans may apply to defer repayments for up to 3 months
• Affected businesses can request loan restructuring without incurring the usual bank fees such as establishment fees and break costs
• Customers wishing to purchase replacement goods may apply for a personal loan at a discounted interest rate with no establishment fee
• Bank of Melbourne may waive interest rate adjustments for affected customers wishing to withdraw term deposits, and
• Affected Bank of Melbourne customers with Home and Contents insurance may be eligible to receive assistance under the terms of their insurance policies for emergency accommodation.

To utilise these special relief measures or for assistance, Bank of Melbourne customers should contact Bank of Melbourne Assist on 1800 600 266 (option 0) or their local Branch Manager.

Insurance customers

Affected insurance customers can contact Bank of Melbourne on 1300 020 266 to lodge a claim, 24/7.

 

^{*Bank of Melbourne Home & Contents Insurance is issued by Westpac General Insurance Limited (WGIL) ABN 99 003 719 319 (except workers compensation cover where applicable). Bank of Melbourne – a division of Westpac Banking Corporation ABN 33 007 457 141 (the Bank) arranges the insurance, but does not guarantee the insurance. This information does not take into account your personal circumstances. Terms, conditions and limitations and exclusions apply. Read the Product Disclosure Statement to see if this insurance is right for you.  WGIL is a subsidiary of Westpac Banking Corporation.}

^{*Eligibility and credit criteria, terms and conditions apply. This information has been prepared without taking your objectives, needs and overall financial information into account.  For further information or to request the full terms and conditions please contact Bank of Melbourne on the numbers stated above.}

 

Media enquiries

Helen Shaw

Head of Corporate Affairs
Bank of Melbourne
P: 0402 227 881
E: helen.shaw@bankofmelbourne.com.au