The Greater Building Society is the first Australian building society to establish a blog as it expands its use of social media to better engage with its customers and the broader community.

The Greater was also the first Australian building society to use Twitter (@GreaterBSociety). It started tweeting in August last year.

Chief blogger and tweeter David Bryde says the Greater has established the blog (http://blog.greater.com.au) as it is another way it can provide people with information and tips about money matters as well as generate discussion on key financial issues.

Mr Bryde said the Greater had already posted blogs on why the use of comparison rates is beneficial to consumers and dispelled some myths that are currently circulating around the ease of switching lenders.

A number of Greater staff will be blogging and the Greater has used blogs as part of its internal communications for some time.

He says that the new online services are an extension to the Greater’s branch network and call centre.

 “The growing popularity of social media shows that some people prefer to “talk” or get their information online these days,” Mr Bryde says.

“Social media is another, increasingly important, way to improve the financial literacy of the community, particularly young people which is good for the competitiveness of the Australian financial services sector in the long run,” he says.

The Greater introduced “Live Chat” on its website in early 2010. It allows people visiting the product pages of the site to open a secure chat window to ask questions of a Greater staff member in real time.

The Greater Building Society operates in NSW, the Gold Coast and in Townsville. With 66 branches and 250,000 members it is one of Australia’s largest building societies. The Greater has enlisted global comedian Jerry Seinfeld to help raise its profile as a viable alternative to the major banks.

MEDIA ENQUIRIES:  Craig Eardley (Greater PR) on 0437 477 493. Visit www.greater.com.au