South West Life

We like to see the locals do well, and some time back we ran some articles on the community banking model.  From our point of view, it's also nice to see someone working to keep the big four from being more rapacious than is our experience.  So without any editing, here's a press release from Donnybrook Capel Community bank.

Although only seven years old, the Donnybrook and Capel Community Banks are being restructured to respond to some new and exciting challenges.

When the community banks first started in 2003, neither Donnybrook nor Capel were being serviced by any of the big four banks who had closed branches which had reduced services dramatically.

The Bendigo Bank came on the scene and, through a community-based franchise model, allowed local communities to take control of their own banking needs.

Today, the Donnybrook and Capel Community Banks provide a full range of banking services to their communities – home, personal and business loans, over the counter banking, credit card, insurance and an ATM in Donnybrook (but there’s some exciting ATM news for Capel soon).

The two branches are also profitable, having weathered the global financial crisis, with large ‘community dividends’ about to commence (although the branches have funded year 7 school camps for students from government schools at a total cost of $40,000).

Having achieved these milestones, the next phase is about to commence, with changes made to operational procedures and senior staffing.

Senior manager David Forster has been transferred to Capel, with the combined goals of growing the bank’s business and expanding into Dalyellup, the south west’s fastest growing urban area.

Over the past four years, Mr Forster and his team has attracted almost $60 million worth of business to the Donnybrook and Capel branches, successfully moving them into profitability and financial stability.

Now he has the challenges and opportunities that Dalyellup provides.

Sherrie Morgan becomes the manager of the Donnybrook community bank branch after 18 months of being the Customer Service Manager at that branch.

Together, both senior staff members have been given the task of moving the Donnybrook and Capel Community Bank to the next level of business and profitability to maximise dividends to shareholders and to the community.

Board chairman Rob Witten has congratulated both managers on their new appointments, with particular praise for Mr Forster’s skills in leading his team in growing the business to where it is today.

“David brought energy, drive and a professional approach to our two branches when he joined us in 2006 with outstanding results across the board,” Mr Witten said.

“Because we’re a community bank, we exist to provide services to our local communities, so it was a logical progression for us to refocus onto our smaller branch – Capel – while looking to develop a new community bank presence in Dalyellup.”

“We appreciate it will take a short while for the new operational arrangements to settle down, so we ask our customers to give us a few weeks to get on top of any issues that arise as David takes over the reins at Capel and Sherrie at Donnybrook branch.”

Big things are happening behind the scenes with Donnybrook and Capel community bank.