Queensland Country Credit Union - 2019 January Newsletter

IN THIS ISSUE

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NEWSLETTER

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SmartBudget ON THE MOBILE

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More details on page 3

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More details on page 4

We are all super proud! To read more visit: qccu.com.au/canstarcarloan

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A home away from home for the

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To be recognised by a trusted source like Canstar demonstrates Queensland Country are providing people with something that can really help them achieve their goals.

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Standout features of the Queensland Country New Car Loan include conditional pre-approval, no fees for paying out the loan early, and the ability to borrow the full purchase price of the car, including on road costs and insurance.

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In determining its 5-Star Ratings for car loans, Canstar evaluates hundreds of products from a wide range of financial institutions, comparing both cost and features.

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For the second year in a row, the Queensland Country New Car Loan has been awarded the prestigious 5-Star Rating for Outstanding Value by Canstar.

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Another Canstar Win!

THISTLEWAITE FAMILY More details on page 4

FROM THE

CEO’S DESK representation of this history can be viewed at www.qccu.com.au/aboutus I congratulate Directors Karen Read and John Weier on the confirmation of their reappointment to the Board, which was endorsed at the AGM. I also thank Clive Skarott and his wife Merle, for attending the AGM and providing some wonderful words of support in relation to the delivery of improvements to online and mobile banking services. Clive has a wealth of experience in the Credit Union industry, having served as Chief Executive Officer of ECU for 20 years, followed by his appointment to ECU’s Board of Directors. Clive also spoke strongly in support of Queensland Country transitioning to Mutual Bank status.

Welcome to 2019! I hope all Members had an enjoyable Christmas and New Year period.

In November, Queensland Country Credit Union held its 48th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Townsville. What an incredible year that we had with finalising the recent mergers with ECU Limited and Queenslanders Credit Union. Our Credit Union has now grown to have Total Assets in excess of $2.2 billion and provides banking services to around 95,000 Members throughout Queensland.

A Members’ Briefing Meeting was also held in Ipswich recently and was very well attended. Chair Bruno Cullen welcomed Members and Deputy Chair Christine Flynn (former Chair of Queenslanders Credit Union) provided Members with an update.

With our geographic representation now expanded and covering most of Queensland, our Board will look for other opportunities to engage with our Membership base.

We are very proud of our combined heritage which now traces back to 1959 with the formation of ABC Staff Association (Qld) Cooperative Credit Union followed by others including Cairns Regional Electricity Board Credit Union; Isa Mine Employees Credit Union; Queensland Public Service Employees Cooperative Credit Union; and Discovery Credit Union, amongst others. A pictorial

A special mention also that Queensland Country Credit Union have again been recognised in 2018 by Canstar for outstanding value New Car Loan - a great achievement, which is also supported by increasing demand for our lending products. We also recently took a decision not to increase interest rates on our Home Loans, at a time when many of our competitors did just that.

Queensland Country Health Fund’s got you covered.

We have also removed a number of fees, and made it even easier to achieve fee exemptions for Members who conduct most of their banking with us. We have been able to take those steps as a result of some of the efficiencies achieved through our increased scale, and we look forward to being able to continue to deliver excellent value and service to all Members.

Following the mergers last year, we have reviewed our Strategic Direction and reconsidered our Vision, our Mission and our Values. This was undertaken not to change our direction, but to ensure that all staff participate in those conversations and together we reflect on the reasons that we exist. I’m very pleased to see that through that process, your Credit Union has adopted a Mission Statement to ‘Make our Members Proud’.

This resonates strongly with all staff and guides our actions and decisions at all levels of the organisation.

As announced in the last Newsletter, I have advised the Board of my intention to retire in early 2019. The process to recruit a new CEO has progressed well and I expect that an announcement will be made shortly on my replacement.

I look forward to seeing Queensland Country continue to grow and achieve even greater success into the future.

Aileen Cull Chief Executive Officer

“Join me and make the change to one of Queensland’s fastest growing health funds today!”

Laura Geitz

Professional Netballer and Queensland Country Health Fund Member

1800 813 415

qldcountryhealth.com.au Growth Rate Data Sourced - APRA OPERATIONS OF PRIVATE HEALTH INSURERS ANNUAL REPORT 2016/17 where Queensland Country Health Fund placed 3rd out of 36.

Queensland Country Health Fund Ltd ABN 18 085 048 237.

PAGE 2 | QUEENSLAND COUNTRY CREDIT UNION NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2019

Product In Focus

SmartBudget ON THE MOBILE APP! SmartBudget is now even savvier with a debut on the Queensland Country Credit Union Mobile App! Your SmartBudget account can also still be managed through Internet Banking.

https://ib.qccu.com.au/

We understand how useful managing your bills on the go is and aim to help you save more time in your day, so you can get on with the things you enjoy doing. The step by step instructions below will have you managing your bills in a flash!

If you don’t have our app, no worries! It is easy to download via the App Store or Google Play, just search ‘Queensland Country’.

Mobile App Steps 1. Select the Queensland Country Credit Union app on your mobile phone 2. The homepage dashboard will appear 3. Next, you will be prompted to log in with your four digit pin 4. Select the SmartBudget icon in the bottom right corner

Internet Banking Steps

5. You’re in! SmartBudget will open to the ‘select your account’ screen

2. Log into internet banking by entering your customer number and password

6. Select your SmartBudget account

3. Once logged in select SmartBudget from the top tool bar

7. Your agreement summary will now open

4. SmartBudget will open to ‘select your account’

8. Select ‘pay’ at the top to view or pay your due bills

5. Click on the agreement to view the ‘agreement overview’

To learn more about SmartBudget or how to use the Mobile App function contact your local branch or call 1800 075 078.

6. Click on ‘pay bill’ to view bills due for payment

1. Visit ib.qccu.com.au

7. Logout when complete

Queensland Country Good for Good Community Grant applications open 1 February 2019!

Head to qccu.com.au/community to learn more

QUEENSLAND QUEENSLAND COUNTRY COUNTRY CREDIT CREDIT UNION UNION NEWSLETTER NEWSLETTER JANUARY APRIL 2019 2017 | PAGE 3

AT A GLANCE FIGURES COMMUNITY GRANTS TO SUPPORT

MORE PROJECTS IN 2019 Queensland Country Good for Good Community Grants are set to provide funding for more community projects in 2019.

Eight community projects received funding in 2018. One of the successful applicants was Pebbles Playgroup in Weipa who received $11,000 towards play equipment.

The playgroup’s Grants Officer Nicole Emerick said the community would benefit greatly from the upgraded play equipment.

Currently, Pebbles Playgroup is the only organisation in Weipa that offers organised sessions for families and children to participate together in educational and social experiences.

The two accredited kindergartens in Weipa are currently filled to capacity with waiting lists, which means there are some children who are missing

OUR CHARITY PARTNER RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE

out on the important experiences that kindy provides, particularly in developing their readiness for school.

The playgroup already has a qualified early childhood educator to provide structured educational sessions and activities, and the addition of new and interesting equipment will extend the outcomes they can offer families.

An element of Queensland Country’s Good for Good Community Grants involves the concept of paying it forward, with grant recipients partnering with the Credit Union to fundraise 10% of their grant amount for Ronald McDonald House Charities.

That fundraising will be boosted with an additional $20,000 contribution from Queensland Country.

For more information about the 2019 Good for Good Community Grants visit qccu.com.au/community.

The Thistlewaites were so excited to add to their growing family. Mum Riona, dad Craig, and their children Emmett and Molly couldn’t wait to meet their expected new addition, a baby boy they’d already named Finn.

Little did the Thistlewaites know that their next appointment with their obstetrician would turn their world upside down and that Ronald McDonald House Charities North Australia would become their saviour.

After initially being told that Finn had a zero chance of survival, the Thistlewaites were sent from Cairns to Townsville where Finn was to be delivered.

“Ronald McDonald House was so pivotal during Finn’s birth, not only logistically by keeping our family together but by giving us a place to stay close to the hospital - it was the personal connection when we were most vulnerable,” Riona said.

Finn continues to beat the odds and will very excitingly celebrate his second birthday in January.

To read more about the Thistlewaite’s experience visit qccu.com.au/thistlewaitefamily

PAGE 4 | QUEENSLAND COUNTRY CREDIT UNION NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2019

November 2017

November 2018

Assets

$1.818b

$2.267b

Loans

$1.406b

$1.769b

Deposits

$1.554b

$1.926b

CHANGING RATES Keep up to date with our current interest rates by visiting qccu.com.au

CONTACT US VISIT Your local branch (check our website for your closest branch details)

WEB qccu.com.au

EMAIL info@qccu.com.au

PHONE SERVICE 1800 075 078

MAIL PO Box 679 Aitkenvale QLD 4814

APP Our app is available at and When considering any Queensland Country financial product or service mentioned in this newsletter you should obtain the relevant Product Disclosure Statement, Product Information Brochure, Terms and Conditions, and Fees & Charges Brochure which are available from any Queensland Country Credit Union Branch. Fees and charges may apply to products. Normal lending criteria applies to loans.

Queensland Country Credit Union Limited.

ABN 77 087 651 027 AFSL/Australian Credit Licence 244 533 Queensland Country Health Fund Ltd. ABN 18 085 048 237