Hume Bank, previously Hume Building Society, is a customer-owned bank which operates primarily in retail banking. Hume has an extensive branch and ATM network, and employs over 140 staff. In 2017 Hume’s customer base reached 61,504 and its assets stood at A$1.10bn. Hume Bank uses local suppliers and businesses to support important economic activity in the region, and offers exclusive workplace packages to employees of local businesses. Hume Bank's Chief Executive Officer is Stephen Capello, its chairman Tony Whiting.
Company history
Hume started as the Hume Co-operative Building & Investment Society Ltd. and was registered on 4 April 1955. Hume was founded by a group of Albury residents who were dissatisfied with the availability of funds for housing and wanted to help local people purchase their own homes. Hume provided a local alternative for housing finance, something that was becoming increasingly difficult for prospective home owners to find because of regulatory rationing. Hume officially changed its name to Hume Bank on 1 July 2014 after seeking approval from its customers and the governing bodyAPRA in 2013. The name change reflects the banking products and services Hume now offers. Hume continues to be customer-owned and customer-focused.
Key dates
1955 – Hume Co-operative Building & Investment Society Ltd. was founded by a group of locals – a dentist, a farmer, a priest, businessmen and a solicitor – who wanted to help people in the community purchase their own homes at a time when funds were scarce. 1967 – Hume become the largest regional building society in New South Wales. 1989 – Hume changes its name to 'Hume Building Society'. 1989 – Hume introduces Australia's first ATMs in a workplace at Uncle Ben's and the Australian Newsprint Mill. 2005 – Hume celebrates 50 years in operation with 12 branches, and 101 employees. 2006 – Hume launches its first online only account, iSave. 2010 – Hume and Baker Motors lease the first fully electric vehicleon the Border of Victoria and NSW. 2012 – Hume reaches 55,000 customers. 2013 – Customers vote for Hume to become a bank from 1 July 2014. 2014 – Hume gains APRA approval to become a bank on the 4 April 2014. 2014 – Hume changes its name to Hume Bank on 1 July 2014. 2015 – Hume celebrates 60 years as a Financial Institution 2016 – Hume reaches milestone of $1 billion in assets and 60,000 customers in their 61st year.
Community focus
Hume continues to support community groups, charities and local events through sponsorship, donations and in-kind support. It aims to support grass-roots developments and initiatives, and in 2017 launched its own annual Life Tech Challenge, which aims to drive innovation in the region. Hume Bank supports a range of community health initiatives: it is a major sponsor of the annual Hume Bank City2City Run Walk that raises funds for the Albury-WodongaHealth Service, and the Albury-Wodonga Big Splash, an annual community event which brings the people of Albury-Wodonga together to show support for and raise awareness of mental health issues.
