October 2019 Directors' Column

Michael Monester - October 2019

We are entering interesting financial and commercial times, as evidenced by very low interest rates, which are of benefit to some and less so for others. As home buyers, the benefits are less onerous repayment obligations but on the other hand, provide less comfort to depositors.

Your Board’s responsibilities include protecting your bank balances, by ensuring our balance sheet is sound and supports initiatives and services you rely upon. At the same time, we manage the Bank First business to ensure we efficiently meet our regulatory and compliance obligations, which are designed to protect borrowers and depositors alike.

Bank First is recognised and awarded for its well defined purpose, communicated in an easily digestible manner and delivered on a daily basis. We continually strive for a culture of making decisions and providing services that are needed and in your best interests. Our proactive culture motivates staff to listen, learn and become experts in their chosen specialties. Our customers reward our culture with their support which creates a circle of mutual enablement and benefit.

While we have compliance and regulatory duties, we also believe in supporting school initiatives via our Teaching Initiatives Program that encourages schools to adopt creative initiatives to prepare our youth for life.

I recently visited Broadmeadows Special Developmental School to present their ‘From Little Things’ project award. This initiative arose from their catering and hospitality program to enhance the work experience component. The skills taught enhance an authentic, multi-sensory accessible and engaging learning program for the benefit of a wide range of diverse learners.

The program helps students achieve a sense of pride and self-esteem as a responsible and active member of a team while strengthening planning and teamwork skills to enable active contributions to school and community.

I am proud to belong to a bank that sees such initiatives as a vital contribution to the well-being of the community it serves.

Michael Monester