Horizon's Year in Review for 2023-2024 is now available.
Featuring:
Horizon in the community, financials, member satisfaction, a word from our Chair & CEO, highlights, achievements and more ...
Check it out below:
October is Cyber Security Awareness Month and an annual reminder for all Australians to stay secure online.
Here are 4 simple steps that can help you improve your cyber security:
Turn on multi-factor authentication.
Keep your devices and software up to date.
Use strong and unique passwords, such as a passphrase.
Recognise and report phishing.
We encourage you to take the time to talk to your family, friends and colleagues about cyber security and take action to secure your devices or accounts from cyber threats.
You can find more information here.
NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING HORIZON CREDIT UNION LTDABN 66 087 650 173
Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Horizon Credit Union Ltd ABN 66 087 650 173 trading as Horizon Bank, will be held on Thursday, 7th November 2024, 5.30pm at 27 Stewart St, Wollongong.
For more information, click here.
Horizon is excited to unveil our Annual Report for the 2023/2024 financial year (FY24).
This report contains yet another year of strong financial results. It also showcases Horizon's ongoing focus & commitment to our communities, continued investment in technology and a growing branch network. We're proud to share our progress with you.
See the full Annual Report below.
The Eurobodalla Woodcraft Guild were thrilled to receive a Community Grant from Horizon Bank totaling $1,958, enabling the purchase of a new chainsaw, case, and helmet set. This essential equipment will enhance the safety and efficiency of their members as they work on local timber projects.
According to Rick Stanford, Vice President of the Guild, the new equipment allows members to safely trim donated tree trunks to fit into their milling machine, resulting in usable timber slabs for various community projects. “This grant will significantly improve our operations and enable us to support even more local initiatives,” Stanford stated in their Grant application.
The Woodcraft Guild has a proud history of providing services to local organisations, including Anglicare, Eurobodalla Council, the Tai Chi Club, and the Moruya Jockey Club. The group benefits from skilled ex-Forestry members who offer safety and usage training, ensuring all members are equipped to handle the equipment responsibly.
Jenny McKenzie, Horizon Bank Moruya Branch Manager, expressed pride in the bank’s commitment to supporting local communities. “The Horizon Bank Community Grants program has delivered over $22,000 to Eurobodalla-based organisations over the last couple of years. We are excited to support initiatives that make a real difference in the community,” Jenny said.
Here you can see one of their senior members, Malcolm, giving a demonstration and training of the new chainsaw to some other members.
Horizon’s Community Grants Program will open for applications in mid-2025.
Our Moruya Branch team spent their Saturday in the sun recently at the Festival for Sustainable Choices in Moruya held by the Eurobodalla Shire Council.Everyone gathered in Riverside Park Amphitheatre on September 14th for great day with plenty of stalls, activities, workshops, panel discussions and more, providing lots of information on how to make more sustainable choices.
Jenny, Ella & Kim-Maree from our Moruya Branch manned a Horizon Bank stall at the festival. They enjoyed spending time chatting to the festival-goers about how Horizon could help them in making more sustainable choices. They provided information about our competitively priced Green Personal Loans as well as our Green Car Loans.
At Horizon Bank we acknowledge our environmental responsibility. ‘Green Horizons’ is a key strategic initiative to be, and be seen as being, a responsible & influential environmental citizen. Being able to be a part of events such as this aligns with our values is fantastic and we look forward to more opportunities like this in the future. Well done to all involved.
From September 2024, there will be important changes to our Debit Cards in Apple Pay which will impact how Apple Pay Mobile Wallet transactions are routed and processed.
What's changing?
All Horizon Bank Debit Cards are Multi-Network Debit Cards meaning you can make transactions using either the eftpos or Visa network.From September 2024, in Apple Pay you will no longer have the choice to select the payment network when you transact in-store. The Network Selection will be performed by the merchant instead of you, the cardholder, meaning when you pay using your card, it’s up to the merchant to choose whether the transaction is an EFTPOS or a Visa transaction.You can still use Apple Pay the same way you always have by double clicking the side button and authenticating with Touch ID, Face ID or passcode.
Depending on the type of transaction account you hold and which the card is linked to, this means you may also incur a transaction fee depending on how the merchant chooses to route the transaction.
Will the change apply to everyone with a Debit Card provisioned in Apple Pay?
Users who upgrade to iOS 18 and/or WatchOS 11 and provision a Horizon Bank Debit Card to apple Pay will no longer have the choice to select the payment network (eftpos or Visa) when they transact in-store. This choice will reside with the merchant instead.
What if I have an iOS/WatchOS older than iOS18/WatchOS 11?
Both existing and newly provisioned Horizon Bank Debit Cards in Apple Pay with an iOS/WatchOS older then iOS18/WatchOS 11 will continue to have user choice.
Why the change?
When a merchant (e.g. a shop or business) accepts payment from a customer via a debit or credit card, the merchant is charged a fee by their bank or payments provider. The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has decided that the Merchant should be able to choose how the transaction gets routed as they are the ones who are incurring the fees.
In Australia, debit card transactions can be processed through either eftpos or the Visa/Mastercard network. The cost the merchant faces from their financial institution for accepting a debit card transaction can vary depending on which network the transaction is processed through. For this reason, the RBA expects mobile wallet providers, to support Merchant Choice Routing.
We're happy to help
If you do have any questions about this change or would like help managing your accounts or cards, please feel free to give us a call on 1300 366 565.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Merchant Choice Routing?
When a customer makes a payment with their dual-network debit card, the merchant may choose to send the transaction via the debit network that costs them the least to accept. This is known as ‘least-cost routing’ or ‘merchant-choice routing’. If the merchant chooses not to route, the transaction will be sent via the default network. If you perform a transaction that a merchant chooses to route via a different network, it does not affect which account the funds are pulled from, and the different networks offer similar protections to the cardholder from fraud and disputed transactions for in-person transactions. If you would like more information on Merchant Choice Routing, please visit the RBA’s website.
What is Dual-Network Debit Card?
Most debit cards in Australia have a functionality that enables a payment to be processed via either EFTPOS or one of the two international networks – Visa/Mastercard. These are called Dual-network or Multi-Network debit cards. Horizon Bank’s Debit Cards are Dual-Network Debit Cards.
How do I check if my debit card in Apply Pay supports both the Visa and eftpos payment network?
You can determine whether your dual network debit card supports both networks by using your iPhone and following these steps; 1. Open the Wallet app. 2. Tap on your card. 3. Tap the More button 4. Tap Card Number. Within the Card Number section, if you see Mastercard or Visa and eftpos network, then the card is a dual network debit card.
Will I still have the choice to select my preferred network when transacting?
When using your Horizon Bank Debit Card you can always select a particular network by inserting your Debit Card into a terminal to make a payment. When doing this you will be asked to select which network to use. If you’re making a contactless payment by tapping your Horizon Bank Debit Card on a terminal, the transaction is automatically routed to the default network programmed on the card.
Will I be charged fees?
A transaction fee may apply depending on which account the transaction on the Debit Card is linked to and which network the transaction is processed through. Generally, Horizon Bank transaction accounts that charge a fee for EFTPOS transactions will be affected. This is because you could be charged an EFTPOS fee for what you thought was a Visa transaction, as a result of the merchant routing the transaction via a different network. To view a copy of our current fees and charges visit https://horizonbank.com.au/help/rates-fees/fees-and-charges/
Will this change affect my Horizon Bank credit card if I have one?
These changes only apply to dual-network debit cards; it does not affect members using credit cards.
Is there anything I need to do ahead of this change?
There’s nothing you need to do; the change will happen automatically.
Say hello to your new Horizon Bank website!
We’ve had a website refresh here at Horizon to a brand-new look & feel. Our refreshed platform offers a new updated design & improved functionality ensuring you have a seamless experience on-site.
What’s new?
Our new, fresh look – We’ve introduced a new, more modern font for better legibility as well as updating a number of design elements to create a fresh new feel to the website.
Update to the navigation menu – There has been an update to our navigation menu, with a new look & functionality making it easier for you to find all the things you need to on our website!
Update to the search function – We’ve improved our search function, making it even easier to quickly search for what you are after.
As a customer-owned bank, our customers are our reason for being. We return profits to customers in the form of competitive rates, the latest technology and 5-star service. The upgrade to the website was done with enhancing the customer experience on our site in mind.
What is a remote access scam?
If you have someone who contacts you unexpectedly, often via phone call, offering to help 'fix problems' with your internet, account, phone or computer by gaining access to your devices, this is a remote access scam. By gaining access to your device they are able to steal your personal information. Remote access scams are causing increasing financial loss.
What happens?
Scammers sound professional and it’s easy to think they’re legitimate. They’ll ask you to download a screen-sharing (or remote desktop application) software, then once they have access they will steal from you. Australians reported lost $15.5 million to these scams in 2023, with criminals stealing averages in the tens of thousands of dollars. Australians over 65 years old are losing the most money in these scams.
How to spot the scam
You receive an unexpected phone call from someone telling you there's a problem with your internet, computer, phone or account.
They may impersonate someone from a well-known bank, internet or phone company, software company or web security business to try to gain your trust and tell you that they can help you 'fix the problem'.
They tell you to download a certain software or an app which will allow them to remotely control your device to help you ‘fix the problem’.
How the scam works
Once you download the software or app they requested you to download, the scammer can now fully control your device.
Since there is actually no problem, they don’t ‘fix’ anything.
They may ask you to tell them your banking passwords or one-time security codes as a part of ‘fixing’ the problem.
Once you share these, the scammer now has access to your bank accounts, personal information and can steal your money.
You might not realise they have stolen your money and emptied your bank accounts until the next time you log in.
Protect yourself
STOP – Don’t let the sense of urgency rush you into taking actions. Hang up on anyone who asks you to download software or an app over the phone. Never provide anyone your banking information, passwords, or 2-factor identification codes over the phone.THINK – Take a second to ask yourself, do you even know this person who is on the phone with you? Take the time to call the business you're dealing with using independently sourced contact details or check you're talking to a real employee using their secure app.PROTECT – Act quickly if something feels wrong. If you've shared financial information, codes or transferred money, contact your bank immediately. Help others by reporting the incident to Scamwatch.
If you've fallen victim to a remote access scam
If you have lost money, contact your bank or financial institution immediately.
If you've had personal information stolen or need support to recover from a scam, contact IDCARE on 1800 595 160.
Help others by reporting scams to Scamwatch.
Tell your friends and family: you can share your experience, get support and help to protect others from scams.
Received a text message from LINKT Toll? Stop and think, don't click the link!
Australians are being warned to be alert for text messages that appear like this:- LINKT - Reminder: You have an unpaid toll notice overdue for over 30 days. Please arrange payment immediately to avoid E-tag cancellation.Then it goes on to show a website.
Scammers often try to gain trust by claiming to be from a well-known business or impersonating someone you may know. The SMS would normally contain a link to the thief's website which may appear to be legitimate but is really not. This is called a phishing website.
These types of website attempts to trick you into giving out personal information such as your bank account details, passwords, codes and credit card numbers.
Even if you think the text is real, it's safe not to click on any links and log into your account using the company's website URL instead.
STOP – Never click on links in texts or emails. Don’t give money or personal information if you are unsure. Scammers will create a sense of urgency, such as telling you your parcel could not be delivered. Don’t rush to act.
THINK – Ask yourself if the message could be fake? Scammers pretend to be from organisations you know and trust. Download the official app and turn on notifications to be confident the message is real.
PROTECT – Act quickly if something feels wrong. Contact your bank immediately if you lose money. Report scams to Scamwatch.
What to do if you have been scammed
If you have lost money, contact your bank or financial institution immediately. You can also report to police via ReportCyber.
Be aware of other scams which may occur after a loss of personal information.
Contact IDCARE on 1800 595 160 if you have provided scammers with your personal identifying information such as drivers licence or passport.
Report scams to Scamwatch
Learn more about scams
