News

RBA 0.25% Interest Rate decrease In response to the Reserve Bank of Australia decision on 19 February 2025 to reduce the cash rate by 0.25%, Horizon Bank will be passing on the full benefit of this interest rate cut to our variable rate residential mortgage borrowers. This 0.25% decrease will take effect on 1 March 2025. We hope that this decision will help ease the cost-of-living pressures for our borrowers and provide some financial relief during these challenging times.If you have any questions or would like more information, please do not hesitate to contact your local branch. Thank you for your continued support of Horizon Bank.

Scam alert: Investment bonds scam Criminals are impersonating real businesses and offering fake investment bonds. They claim these bonds offer high returns and are protected by the government. Scammers will encourage you to register your name, mobile number and email on a fake website. They steal money by getting people to buy fake investment bonds. They will also use your personal details to commit other scams. How to spot the scam This scam can be hard to spot because criminals set up fake emails where they pretend to be legitimate brokers. They also have a fake website which looks like the real business’s website. The fake website has the business’s branding and uses links that go to the real website. The fake website comes up in internet searches for investment opportunities. What you should know There are steps you can take to help avoid investment scams: Don’t trust surprise offers to invest. Don’t take investment advice from people you have met on social media. Check the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) website to confirm if the person offering the investment is licenced. Check the Moneysmart investor alert list for companies and websites you should not trust. Check if the business details match the company’s real website. Stay vigilant to scams. Remember to STOP. CHECK. PROTECT. If you’ve been affected If you’ve had money or personal information stolen contact us immediately. If you’ve been scammed or have provided personal information call IDCARE on 1800 595 160. Help others by reporting scams to Scamwatch.

Look at those smiling faces! Pambula Public School P&C used their Horizon community grant funding to purchase new canteen equipment including a stick blender, sandwich press, pie warmer, multi-cooker and other kitchen items that will allow the canteen to continue to provide fresh and healthy food to students. Pambula Public School P&C Canteen is a not-for-profit service and is staffed by two employees with the help of generous volunteers. The school canteen prepares healthy, fresh and delicious food for students and staff and is part of a 'whole of school approach' to student health and wellbeing. Most of the food is prepared fresh on site, with many ingredients sourced from the school vegetable garden. The canteen is managed in a sustainable way, with materials composted and recycled where possible. The kitchen items purchased with the grant money will improve efficiency, reduce workloads, and allow the canteen to continue to provide fresh and healthy food to students. Horizon’s Community Grants Program will open for applications in mid-2025. 

Travel smart: Protect yourself from booking a scam holiday Have you considered booking a holiday in 2025? While booking time off is exciting, it’s important to ensure your plans are legitimate so you don’t end up the victim of a travel scam. To help ensure your holiday plans go ahead, COBA’s financial crimes team share tips on how to identify and avoid travel scams. What is a travel scam? A travel scam can be identified by cheap flights and accommodation offers, free vacations, or exclusive holiday rentals. Scammers create fake listings for popular travel destinations that mimic legitimate online travel agencies. They will then require payment upfront or request unusual and unsecured methods of payment that scam victims out of money. Travel scams can take many forms, including:- Fake travel websites, booking platforms or rental listings advertised online.- Unsolicited calls or emails offering free or heavily discounted luxury vacations.- Fraudulent online marketplaces where scammers demand upfront payments for non-existent bookings. Tips to protect yourself Do your research: Verify that websites, agencies, or accommodation listings are legitimate. You can do this by reading reviews from other travellers or asking for proof of the agency’s accreditation or certification. Red flags include listings with limited photos, vague descriptions, or deals significantly cheaper than market rates. Be sceptical of unsolicited travel offers: Avoid holiday deals that seem too good to be true, especially if they’re unexpected. You may receive emails notifying that you’ve won a free vacation and ask you to click a link to claim the prize – this is likely a scam, especially if you haven’t entered any competition. Use secure payment methods: Avoid transferring money or paying through untraceable methods like gift cards or cryptocurrency. What to do if you suspect a scam If you encounter a potential scam, report it to ScamWatch.gov.au to help protect others from falling victim. If you’ve been scammed, let us know by contacting us.

The Eurobodalla Woodcraft Guild used their $2,000 community grant to purchase a Chainsaw and safety helmet to assist with timber milling. This equipment allows the club to safely trim donated tree trunks so that they fit into their milling machine, producing useable timber slabs for their members and use in community projects. Another great bonus is that eligible club members will be trained in the operation and safety aspects before using the new equipment. Horizon’s Community Grants Program will open for applications in mid-2025. 

Cambewarra Pony Club received a Horizon Bank Community Grant totalling $3,800 to purchase and install essential updated safety equipment to their club house. The Cambewarra Pony Club have been operating in the region for over 50 years and cater for people aged 5 – 79 years old. Due to the increase in members and volunteers at the club, there is also a welcomed increase in events & activities happening at the club. Club President, Lesley Lee, explains the impact in their application, “Our safety project will have a lasting benefit to a large number of people in this community who work in partnership with our organisation and share our facilities”. They were able to purchase 2 new fire extinguishers, 2 additional fire alarms, a crim safe security door and extra flood lights for the outside of the club house. The addition of this equipment has increased the safety of the clubhouse significantly.  Here you can see some of the members & horses with their new crim-safe door. Horizon’s Community Grants Program will open for applications in mid-2025.

The Murrah Hall Preservation Association have power!Thanks to a Horizon Bank Community Grant of $5,000, the organisation was able to purchase the electrical equipment required to connect power to the incredible newly built outdoor amphitheatre at the rear of the Murrah Hall. The connection of power to the amphitheatre means more events & entertainment in the space for people of all ages, bringing the community together. Here you can see one of their first music events held recently in the amphitheatre, how good does that look! Horizon’s Community Grants Program will open for applications in mid-2025. 

The Berry RSL Sub-Branch were thrilled to be successful in receiving a Horizon Bank Community Grant of $5,000 to replace the timber walkway access into the hall. The walkway had become weathered and dangerous for patrons using the hall, and as a commonly used hall for the community this deterioration was dangerous for the elderly and disabled people accessing the hall. The organisation was able to have the decking replaced as well as installation of new handrails, increasing the safety of the entrance to the hall. Horizon’s Community Grants Program will open for applications in mid-2025. 

Stanwell Park Arts Theatre were the worthy recipients of a $4,450 Horizon Bank Community Grant recently which allowed them to facilitate a much-needed replacement of the velvet stage curtains and the stage wings in their theatre. The Stanwell Park Arts Theatre is a multipurpose space for many things such as theatrical performances, rehearsal space, workshops, movie nights and community group rentals just to name a few. The organisations President, Sonia Westwood, describes the importance of the theatre in their application stating “The hall’s role is a cultural hub - supporting theatre, arts workshops, community cinema and new writers’ underscores – it's importance is as a cornerstone of cultural life in the region, fostering creativity and community cohesion for all residents… This improvement is particularly significant for the northern Illawarra community, including members from isolated areas like Helensburgh, who rely of SPAT for cultural engagement and artistic expression”. This upgrade helps to enhance the aesthetic appeal of the theatre, as well as improving the functionality of their stage area. As their old curtains perished over time, meaning they were experiencing issues during performances which they have been able to mitigate by upgrading. Here you can see the fresh, new velvet curtains installed looking very flash! Horizon’s Community Grants Program will open for applications in mid-2025.

The Bermagui Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism were the recipients of a $3,845 Horizon Bank Community Grant recently which allowed them to organise the Bermagui Star Light Display in the township. Following the rough last few years of bushfires, floods, lockdowns and more, the Chamber’s aim for their light project was to lift the spirits in the township of Bermagui through the decoration of community buildings & small businesses over the holiday period. In their application the manager of the Bermagui Visitor Information Centre, Christine Bimson, explained more on this saying “Bermagui Chamber wants to bring some happiness and good vibes back to our lovely seaside village and its beautiful community, make them feel positive about the town and our future, join people together to celebrate and encourage our younger generation to feel safe and loved in this town.” The Chamber plan to continue this display each year for many years to come, giving the town something exciting to look forward to in the community come the festive season. What a fantastic project that the Bermagui Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism have implemented to encourage community engagement & spread the cheer! Here you can see how fantastic their light display turned out this year. Horizon’s Community Grants Program will open for applications in mid-2025.