Meaningful purpose.
We are passionately connected to a strong and clear purpose that puts our members at the centre of everything we do.
Our Purpose. Our Promise. Our Principles.
Our Purpose sums up why Defence Bank exists. It keeps us focused on being the best Bank we can be.
Our Purpose is to serve those who protect us.
Every day, we support the financial needs of the Defence community, both serving and non-serving.
We’re the bank thar understands that the lives, needs, courage, challenges and commitment of our members is unique.
We provide banking products and services that help create financial security and prosperity.
- It's why we challenge ourselves to continuously learn.
- It's why we question the status quo and seek out new opportunities to continuously improve.
- It's why we keep our members top of mind and seek to be their financial partner.
- It's why we open the doors each day.
And we couldn’t be prouder to do so.
We are a unique bank, for a unique life.
We are an organisation of unique people, serving a unique community.
The promise we make to each other and our members is…
We count on you. And you can count on us.
- It means we're focused on doing what's right.
- It's a declaration of what we, and our members, can expect when dealing with us.
- Our members can count on us to understand their needs, and to put their prosperity and security first.
- Our people can count on Defence Bank, to nurture their talents and wellbeing.
Our principles guide how we ACT.
These principles include:
- We're Accountable; with integrity for our behaviour and decisions and commitment to follow through on what we say we'll do.
- We're Collaborative; working as one team and one organisation, to achieve shared goals.
- We're Transparent; with timely, clear and honest communications regarding what we do.
Our principles unite us.
Together we can deliver a great and consistent member and employee experience.
Serving those who protect us.
At Defence Bank, we’ve been proudly serving the Australian Defence Community for almost 50 years, by providing financial products and services to members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) which consists of three services:
- Royal Australian Navy (RAN).
- Australian Army.
- Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).
We also serve employees, family and friends of ADF, the Department of Defence, the Department of Veteran's Affairs, Defence contractors, retired ADF personnel and other members of the Australian Defence Community.
Our humble beginnings.
The history of Defence Bank began at Victoria Barracks, Melbourne on 18 March 1975 when we were established as a credit union for the ADF.
In 2012, we became a mutual bank, with profit reinvested back into the bank for the benefit of our members.
How we're different.
Whilst traditional banks are often listed on the share market, Defence Bank puts our members first.
The bank offers the same types of products and services as the bigger banks including transaction accounts, savings accounts, home loans, personal loans and credit cards.
However, unlike the ‘big 4’, Defence Bank has established a close relationship with our membership base and has a unique understanding of the needs of the ADF community which sets us apart.
Empowering employment opportunities for ADF Partners.
Defence Bank supports the partners and families of our Defence Community and has a strong history of hiring defence partners and guiding their career development. The bank received the Prime Ministers Award for Veterans Employment in the excellence in spouse employment category in 2019 and has been a finalist in this award in 2020 and 2021.
- 25% of our branch team members are Defence partners of either current or ex-serving ADF members.
- 40% of our frontline team have at least one ADF family connection.
- 1 in 5 new employees in our branch tea are Defence spouse/partners.
We support our Defence community employees through community, emotional and social networks. The Bank is committed, where possible, to continuing employment when ADF partners are relocated due to postings or redeployment. We offer leave for reserve service and provide early access to parental leave and leave for emergencies at short notice.
Defence Bank is also an active sponsor of the Military Life podcast and initiatives that support the partners of ADF members.
Improving mental wellbeing and lives of our veterans, one paw at a time.
Established in 2014 by the Defence Bank Foundation, the Defence Community Dogs (DCD) program exists to help Veterans improve their lives, one paw at a time.
The program provides highly trained Assistance Dogs to serving and ex-serving Australian Defence Force members, who need physical and emotional support for mood, depressive and anxiety disorders including Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
This unique win-win-win program rescues and re-homes dogs, rehabilitates inmates who are empowered to professionally train these dogs and helps Veterans to rebuild - in some cases, literally saving their lives, with professionally trained assistant dogs. The assistance dogs are provided to veterans at no cost. Defence Community Dogs is fully funded by the Defence Bank Foundation.
Our people have the opportunity be involved and support our foundation by donating and being part of the Defence Bank Workplace Giving Program, which raises funds to support our Australian Defence Force Community.
Learn more about the Defence Bank Foundation.
At Defence Bank we actively encourage our people to volunteer, make donations and play an active role in the communities in which our people live and work. Our community involvement is significant, with a focus on activities that build both social and economic well-being both now and in the future. In addition to the DCD program all employees are entitled to volunteer leave to support their community.
Join Defence Bank. For a career like no other.
Meaningful lives.
