Twenty years of community investment celebrated in the Meander Valley

Community Bank Deloraine & Districts marked its 20th anniversary last month, celebrating two decades of local ownership and community investment.

Since opening its doors on 27 July 2005, the Meander Valley branch grew steadily, thanks to the dedication of its staff, board members and the ongoing support of local customers. Chair Anne Harvey said the milestone reflected both the bank’s business success and its ability to give back to the region.

“Thanks to community support, and the hard work of our branch staff and Board, we have been able to build the business steadily over the past 20 years,” Mrs Harvey said. “Because of this, we have been able to share this success with our community through our grants programs, sponsorships, donations, scholarships and shareholder dividends.”

Over two decades, the bank directed more than $3.5 million into Meander Valley, funding a wide range of local initiatives. This included $1.5 million in grant projects, nearly $960,000 in sponsorships, $675,750 in dividend payments, $272,000 in scholarships for 41 local students, more than $230,000 for other community projects and more than $50,000 in donations.

Mrs Harvey said residents, community organisations and local businesses embraced the benefits of banking locally, helping ensure profits stayed in the district. “As our profitability grows, so too does our ability to channel our profits into community infrastructure and services,” she said.

The bank was established as a community-driven initiative, and Mrs Harvey said that mission continued. “Our branch was set up by the community, for the community, and we continue to look for projects that we can support that help strengthen Meander Valley.”

The anniversary also provided an opportunity to thank those who contributed to the bank’s story so far. “We thank our loyal customers, past and present bank staff and Board members and everyone who has supported us on our 20-year journey, and we look forward to continuing working with our wonderful community into the future,” Mrs Harvey said.