News

Meet our Albion Park branch manager, Jo Thompson.  Jo is the Branch Manager and a lender at our Albion Park branch. She’s spent more than 40 years in banking, with 31 of those years at Horizon Bank. Most recently, she was recognised as Horizon Bank’s Lender of the Year, receiving a unanimous vote from our staff across the organisation.While Jo once loved travelling the world and ticking off overseas destinations, these days she’s more likely to be found exploring regional towns on a road trip. Maybe the South Coast lifestyle is finally rubbing off on her! When it comes to local recommendations, Jo doesn’t hesitate. Her hot local tip? Albion Park Village Meats. According to Jo, it’s the best butcher around.

Yours & Owls Festival 2026: Horizon Bank backs emerging South Coast music. Yours & Owls Festival returned to Wollongong on 3 and 4 October 2026, and this year Horizon Bank was lucky enough to be right in the middle of it. But beyond all the festival fun, we had something pretty special up our sleeves. The launch of our very own Horizon Rising Stage, giving emerging South Coast bands the chance to perform at one of the Illawarra's biggest music events and compete for a $2,000 grant to help take their music to the next level. Horizon Rising: Giving South Coast artists a bigger stageSunday was all about the local music scene as we proudly launched the Horizon Rising Stage, a new addition to Yours & Owls Festival dedicated to showcasing emerging South Coast artists. The idea behind Horizon Rising was simple. Give local musicians a bigger platform, get their music in front of new audiences and put some real support behind the talent coming out of our own backyard. Seven local bands took to the stage, each bringing their own sound and competing for a $2,000 music grant from Horizon Bank. A massive congratulations to the Horizon Rising acts:• YEARN• Flannelette• Lightyears• Silvia Lane• Loose Surface• Sega Jade• Big Modern From recording new music and booking studio time to purchasing equipment or getting on the road, the grant was designed to give one local band a helping hand with whatever comes next. And festivalgoers had a say in who would take it home, voting for their favourite Horizon Rising performance. Lightyears take out the Horizon Rising title! After seven performances and votes from festivalgoers, Lightyears took out the Horizon Rising title, scoring a $2,000 grant from Horizon Bank to put towards their music journey. This is exactly what Horizon Rising was all about. Giving emerging South Coast artists a bigger platform and the opportunity to take their music further. We're stoked to have played a small part in Lightyears' journey and can't wait to see what they've got up their sleeves next! Rain, glitter and a whole lot of fairy floss The Horizon Rising Stage wasn't the only thing keeping us busy over the long weekend.  Saturday brought plenty of rain, but that didn't stop us having all the fun in the Horizon VIP area. Our team spent the day adding a little sparkle to festivalgoers with our glitter station and chatting with locals. By Sunday, we'd swapped glitter for fairy floss, handing out hundreds of serves to festivalgoers. Judging by a few of the faces we saw, a little sugar was very much appreciated after a big Saturday! One of our favourite parts of the weekend was getting to chat with so many people. About music, banking, life and yes, confirming more than a few times that we really are a local bank. Why supporting local music matters to Horizon Bank Being part of Yours & Owls Festival was about more than having our name on a stage. As a customer-owned bank with roots in the Illawarra and South Coast, we're super passionate about supporting the people, organisations and events that make our communities thrive. And that includes our local music scene. There is so much talent coming out of the South Coast and initiatives like Horizon Rising help create opportunities for emerging artists to be seen, heard and supported. Whether it's through music and the arts, sport, education or community organisations, we're proud to back the people doing great things in the places we call home. A huge thank you to the Yours & Owls team, the Horizon Rising artists and everyone who stopped by to say hello, grab some fairy floss, get glittered or vote for their favourite band. Want to know more about how we're giving back? Check out our community initiatives and see how Horizon Bank is supporting local people and organisations across the Illawarra and South Coast.

Meet our Ulladulla branch manager, Kevin Whitford.  If there's one thing we've learned about Kevin, it's that he's a man of the people.When he's not busy managing our Ulladulla branch, you'll find him volunteering in the local community. Whether it's at the football club or patrolling the beach as a volunteer lifeguard, Kevin is always happy to lend a hand. Kevin has spent more than 45 years in the banking industry, with nearly 15 of those years at Horizon Bank. It's fair to say he knows a thing or two about banking. When asked what he enjoys most about working at Horizon, Kevin said it's the people. He says the support from his colleagues and the sense of family within is what makes Horizon such a special place to work (Don't make us cry Kev).His hot local tip is Mollymook Beach. According to him, it's one of the best spots around for a swim and we're certainly not going to argue with a volunteer lifeguard. He also says spending his summers volunteering on the beach keeps him energised.    

Everyone's financial journey is different. Some people dream of travelling. Others save for a wedding, start a business or buy their first home. For Horizon Bank member Megan, her goal was property. At just 18 years old, Megan achieved something she had been working towards for years, purchasing her first investment properties. While her achievement may seem extraordinary, Megan is the first to admit there wasn't a shortcut or secret. It came down to having a clear goal, staying focused and making choices that aligned with the future she wanted to build. "I knew what I wanted and tried to make decisions that would help me get there," Megan says. Along the way, Megan had the support of Horizon Bank lender Liz Shepherd, whose decades of lending experience helped guide her through each stage of the process. From answering questions and explaining her options to helping her understand what came next, Liz was there to make the journey feel less daunting. "Buying property can feel overwhelming, especially when you're doing it for the first time," says Liz. "My role is to help members understand their options, make informed decisions and support them every step of the way. Watching Megan achieve her goal has been just awesome." Megan's story isn't about being the youngest or suggesting everyone should follow the same path. It's simply one example of what can happen when determination is matched with good planning and the right support. The reality is that no two financial journeys are the same. Everyone starts from a different place. We all have different priorities, responsibilities and dreams. What worked for Megan won't be right for everyone, and that's perfectly okay! Whether your next milestone is buying your first home, saving for a holiday, building an emergency fund or simply feeling more confident with your finances, every step forward is worth celebrating. Here are a few lessons we can all take from Megan's journey:• Set a goal. Knowing what you're working towards can make financial decisions feel more purposeful.• Start sooner than you think. Even small, consistent habits can make a difference over time.• Don't be afraid to ask questions. The more you understand, the more confident you'll feel when the time is right.• Find someone you trust. An experienced lender can help you navigate the process and understand your options with confidence.• Remember that your journey is your own. There's no right age or perfect timeline for achieving your goals. At Horizon Bank, we're proud to support members through every stage of life, whether they're opening their first savings account, buying their first home or planning for the future. Congrats Megan, on an incredible achievement, and thank you, Liz, for demonstrating the difference that experience, guidance and genuine care can make!

Nominations are called for the position of Director of Horizon Credit Union Limited trading as Horizon Bank. Nomination forms are available by contacting Mitch Cooper via phone on 02 4224 7700 or by email at chat@horizonbank.com.au.   Nominations close at 4pm on 27 August 2026. Furthermore, the Horizon Bank Annual General Meeting will be held on Thursday, 5 November. You can register your attendance by emailing your full name and member number to chat@horizonbank.com.au.

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. 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.

Following the Reserve Bank of Australia’s recent decision to increase the official cash rate by 0.25%, Horizon Bank has completed a review of interest rates across our lending and deposit products. We understand that ongoing interest rate increases continue to place pressure on household budgets, particularly for members with home loans. As a customer-owned bank, Horizon Bank carefully balances the needs of both borrowers and savers while ensuring we remain financially strong and sustainable so we can continue supporting our members and communities into the future. Changes to Variable Rate Loans From Friday 22 May 2026, Horizon Bank will increase interest rates by 0.25% p.a. on eligible variable rate home and personal loans. What this means for borrowers When the rate changesYour interest rate will change from Friday 22 May 2026. When repayments changeYour new minimum repayment amount will apply from your next repayment cycle after 22 June 2026. What you may need to doIf you have automatic transfers set up from another financial institution, you may need to review and adjust them to ensure your new minimum repayment is met. Where to find your detailsYour updated interest rate, minimum repayment amount and due date will be available in Internet Banking and the Horizon Bank App. All members impacted by this change will receive written notification with details specific to their loan. Changes to Deposit Interest Rates As part of our review, we will also increase interest rates on selected deposit products, recognising the loyalty of members who continue to save and invest with Horizon Bank. Some deposit products will have updated rates effective from Friday 22 May 2026, while others will change from Monday 1 June 2026. Updated rates will be available on the Horizon Bank website from the relevant effective dates. Do I need to do anything? BorrowersIf you have automatic repayments set up, particularly from another financial institution, you may need to review and adjust your repayment amount to ensure you continue to meet the new minimum repayment. DepositorsNo action is required. Updated rates will apply automatically from the effective dates.   We’re here to help If you have any questions about these changes, or if you are concerned about managing your repayments, please get in touch with us as early as possible so we can discuss the support options available. Visit your local branch to speak with one of our lending specialists, or call us on 1300 366 565.

2nd February 2026 Caller ID Spoofing Scam Criminals impersonate companies, including banks, by disguising their phone number. These calls can look legitimate, even though they’re not. How this scam works You receive a call that appears to be from a professional organisation, perhaps even Horizon Bank. The caller may claim to be from an admin or fraud team and warns of suspicious or urgent activity. You’re asked to share a one-time password or security code to “stop” or “reverse” a transaction. That code is then used to access or move your money. How to protect yourself Horizon Bank will never ask you to share a one-time password. Horizon Bank will never call from a private number. If a call feels urgent, unexpected or doesn’t feel right, don’t engage. Hang up and contact Horizon Bank directly on 1300 366 565. If you think you or someone else may have been targeted, notify us immediately so we can help. If you’re unsure, pause and check. Taking a moment could prevent financial loss.

Rally for Recovery operates from a converted and upgraded Eurobodalla Council Fire Service shed in Tomakin NSW. Thirty volunteers use this space to raise money for the Sydney Children's Hospital Foundation, working twice weekly all year in unheated and uncooled premises. The Horizon Bank grant was used to fund the purchase and installation of a split system air conditioner, creating a comfortable environment for the volunteers who sell second-hand and donated items.

Have you noticed your Horizon Visa card in our mobile app yet? Here’s what you need to know: Digital cards means you will no longer be without access to funds if your card is lost or stolen. When a new card is ordered, card numbers will be displayed in the Horizon app immediately. The card is active – no need to activate! You can then add your Horizon Visa card to your Apple wallet, Samsung or Google wallet. You will still receive a new plastic card, which will be sent in 7-10 days. There is no pin sent, as you will need to select a PIN for this digital card via our app. You can immediately utilise card controls as well. For more information or if you have any questions, please contact us.