Mr F.W. Lean and Mr K.A. Mathieson Snr form the Newcastle and Hunter River Public Service Starr-Bowkett Building Co-operative Society Limited. This was the start of what was to become Greater Bank. The society was formed in response to economic depression, during which home ownership was out of reach for many. The Society aimed to bring home ownership at the lowest cost to its members. Members of the society bought shares and made weekly contributions, and a lottery would determine which member received interest free home loans.
The Greater Newcastle Co-operative Permanent Building and Investment Society was formed. The society has changed its name over the years and is now known as Greater Bank to reflect our reach beyond Newcastle, and to better reflect the products and services we provide. Greater Bank now serves over 260,000 customers across NSW and South East QLD.
The assets of Greater Bank top £11,000, with a staff numbering less than 10. Greater Bank has grown to employ over 700 staff.
Greater Bank opens its first branch outside the Hunter, expanding to the Central Coast of NSW with a branch in Gosford.
Greater Bank ventures into the Sydney market for the first time, opening a branch at Penrith at the foot of the Blue Mountains.
Greater Bank expands even further south, opening its first branch in the Illawarra region at Warrawong.
Greater Bank heads north to provide simple, great value banking to residents of the North Coast of NSW, opening branches in Ballina and Coffs Harbour.
Greater Bank also expands into the New England region of NSW with its new branch in Gunnedah.
Greater Bank decides to drop “Newcastle” from its name, as the company now operates in a region stretching from Illawarra to the North Coast of NSW.
Greater Bank merges with Mitchell Building Society.
Greater Bank lands on QLD’s sunny Gold Coast, opening a branch in Robina.
Greater Bank receives international attention as comedian Jerry Seinfeld is engaged to appear in the company’s promotional campaigns. The comedian, who rarely appears in advertising, helps raise awareness of Greater Bank to new heights over the next three years.
Greater Bank merges with ABS Building Society.
The Greater Charitable Foundation is formed to support charities and make a long term difference to families and communities. Thus far The Foundation has allocated more than $10 million to charities, and Greater Bank staff regularly volunteer to support the fantastic work of the Foundation’s partners.
Greater Bank reaches a new milestone with assets topping $5 billion.
Greater Bank appoints Scott Morgan as CEO. Mr Morgan replaces Don Magin who stepped down in August, 2014 after more than six years in the role.
After being named Roy Morgan Research's Building Society of the Year for 2014, Greater Bank is once again Australia's Most Loved Banking Organisation.
With a consistently outstanding customer satisfaction rating, this is the second year in a row Greater Bank has taken out Building Society of the Year.
In 2016, The Greater Building Society changes its name to Greater Bank, to better reflect the full range of products and services we offer our customers.
Remaining as a mutual bank, owned by customers, Greater Bank continues to help customers save, grow and protect their money.
Our members vote “yes” to merge with Newcastle Permanent, bringing together two Hunter-based icons to create a regional financial powerhouse.
On March 1 the merger with Newcastle Permanent is made official, seeing the creation of Newcastle Greater Mutual Group (NGM Group), while still maintaining the Greater Bank brand and the wonderful customer service we have always provided.
