Building financial capability
The banking products and tips you need, but in non-bank speak. We don't speak in financial jargon. In fact, we're on a mission to help you understand and reach your financial goals.
Our new-look Grafton BCU Bank branch is now open, and we want to celebrate with you!
- Category: Personal
There’s a lot to think about when looking to buy a new home. Before you start looking at property listings, it’s worthwhile taking the time to understand your borrowing power and how much you may need to save for a house deposit.
- Category: Personal
Have you heard? Our new-look Toormina BCU Bank branch is now open, and we want to celebrate with you!
- Category: Personal
If your fixed rate home loan expires in less than 12 months, it’s a good idea to start thinking about what could happen when your fixed rate term ends.
- Category: Personal
When it comes to a home loan application, your broker or bank will need some important information to confirm your identity and your capacity to repay the debt.
Whether you are a first-time home buyer or are refinancing, we’ve put together a list of what information you’ll need when applying for a home loan.
- Category: Personal
Understanding the different types of home loans can be confusing, especially for first home buyers.
We’ve outlined the differences to help you determine the most suitable home loan type for you.
- Category: Personal
With rising property prices in many parts of Australia, it can sometimes feel impossible to get a foot on the property ladder. BCU Bank is proud to be part of the Home Guarantee Scheme, an Australian government initiative to help home buyers realise their home ownership dream.
- Category: Personal
Guest article from Finder money editor Richard Whitten
BCU Bank put in a strong showing at the 2023 Finder Home Loans Awards, receiving highly commended results for five award categories.
- Category: Personal
With a few changes you can pay off your home loan sooner and save money.
- Category: Personal
Most people have at least one financial goal. It could be a small one, like purchasing a rad new pair of sneakers, or a big one, like a wedding or purchasing a property.
Whatever your plans, reaching a financial goal is usually easier said than done.
- Category: Personal
So, you want, or need, to improve your budget but don’t have the time to sit down with a spreadsheet and input every single purchase that you’ve made since payday (yep, even your $2 snag at Bunnings)?
Neither do we.
- Category: Personal
These days there’s an app for everything – from finding true love to managing your household chores, and everything in between.
- Category: Personal
Whether you’re out and about, at work, or just hanging around the house, our online banking solutions will make accessing and managing your accounts simple, no matter where you are.
- Category: Personal
Saving for a deposit is one of the biggest hurdles to overcome when beginning your property journey.
If you are renting and paying bills, trying to save for a deposit at the same time can seem overwhelming.
Here are five tips to help you save your deposit as quickly as possible.
- Category: Personal
After all, it’s your money. At BCU Bank, you can still walk into our branches, talk with a human, get on the phone, or bank using our digital services. Plus, much more.
- Category: Personal
At BCU Bank, our members act like they own the place – because they do.
- Category: Personal
For many homeowners, interest rates are becoming an increasing cause for concern.
- Category: Personal
BCU Bank believes every Australian should feel confident when it comes to their finances – so we’re cutting out the bank jargon and giving it to you straight.
- Category: Personal
And so do we. Belong to the bank that puts members and the community first.
- Category: Personal
Refinancing can be a great way to ensure your home loan meets your needs.
Continue the momentum by considering these steps to ensure you get the most out of your new home loan.
- Category: Personal
My oh mymo. BCU Bank’s new app makes managing your money easier than ever, with all your accounts in one place.
- Category: Personal
BCU Bank’s award-winning home loans are flexible and designed specifically for you, our members. Here’s what you can expect when you choose a BCU home loan.
- Category: Personal
With the cost of living rising, it’s more important than ever to make sure you’re making the most of your money.
Your home loan is a significant debt but there are ways that you could reduce the associated costs.
Here are five ways you could save on your home loan.
- Category: Personal
Every family has a go-to person for all their tech questions. The one who can get the TV connected to Netflix, navigate the world of passwords, sort out the dodgy Wi-Fi, or help install programs on the family PC.
If this sounds like you and is your unofficial family job, there are some good basics to be across that will hold you in good stead, and hopefully stop some of the most common issues arising in the first place.
- Category: Personal
If your tactics for shopping the online Boxing Day sales could give the Boxing Day test a run for its money, or Cyber Monday, Prime Day, and VOSN sales are already scheduled into your calendar, you may not be too concerned about your online security.
However, scams are constantly evolving so even the most seasoned online shopper should take a moment to review their online security before shopping up a storm.
- Category: Personal
Our smart phones are a central part of our lives – we take photos of family, keep up with friends, plan holidays, do all our banking and even make calls!
That’s a lot of personal information all in one place. Not to mention, the significant cost of a smartphone itself – especially if you have to repair or replace it.
- Category: Personal
As an eligible home buyer, you could receive thousands of dollars in state grants or concessions.
- Category: Personal
New year, new you? How to create (and stick to) a financial resolution.
- Category: Kids
With the holiday period coming up, it’s almost time to start thinking about the preparation required to send the kids back to school.
- Category: Kids
From the moment your child is born, all you want to do is give them the best future.
Whether it’s enrolling them into an award-winning school, signing them up to their favourite sport club, or helping them apply for their chosen university degree, supporting your child’s education is one of the best gifts you can give.
- Category: Personal
If you’re someone who uses your credit card every day and pays off the balance each month, it could be worth switching to a credit card with a rewards program.
- Category: Personal
Our Lending Manager, David Cawthorne, has always been a numbers man.
His love for mathematics and accounting kick-started his 38-year career in the finance and banking industry.
- Category: Personal
With a Bachelor of Business, MBA, psychology degree and more than 10 years’ experience in retail and business banking, Brisbane Mobile Lender Brigid Chow is your “go to” when it comes to talking about loans.
- Category: Personal
If you have a savings goal, a term deposit can offer a low-risk way to invest your money and earn a fixed rate of interest.
- Category: Personal
Saving money can be challenging so it’s important to find a savings account that helps you to reach your savings goals.
- Category: Personal
BCU Bank Lending Manager, Grant Douglass, is a family man who understands organising a home loan can be stressful – especially while juggling the kids.
- Category: Personal
You’ve organised flights, accommodation, and activities, but have you organised your finances?
One of the essential items to prepare before you head overseas is your money.
- Category: Personal
Make the most out of your hard-earned money when you travel.
- Category: Personal
BCU Bank’s mobile lender Christina Morris is a true Clarence Valley local.
- Category: Personal
When temperature ranges rise, sometimes the only way to beat the heat is to switch on your air-conditioner – even if you know it’s going to cost you.
With energy prices hiking across Australia, it’s important to understand your energy consumption to avoid a hefty bill at the end of the quarter.
- Category: Personal
With shopping centres flooding with extravagant Christmas decor and gift ideas, it’s natural to want to start your holiday spending early.
However, if you haven’t set a budget you could fall into the trap of overspending.
To avoid starting your new year in debt, here are some tips to track your expenses.
- Category: Personal
For many of us, our phone and computers are a key part of everyday life.
There’s not much we can’t do on our smart devices, from shopping and booking experiences, to browsing social media, transferring money and filling out forms.
With so much information shared online each day, it’s important you’re aware of how you can protect yourself and your data from scams and fraud.
- Category: Personal
If you have financial aspirations, a solid budget is usually the first plan to help achieve your goals.
Managing your money gives you more choice for the future and it pays to start as soon as possible.
- Category: Personal
There’s a lot to think about when looking to buy a new home.
Before you start scrolling online for open home listings, spend some time planning how you will save your house deposit.
- Category: Personal
For many Maclean locals, Paula Eckersley is a familiar, friendly face.
Since moving to the region with her husband 20 years ago, Paula has come to understand the importance of relationships in small towns.
- Category: Personal
Not all savings accounts are created equal.
So how do you go about selecting the best savings account to meet your needs?
- Category: Personal
If you’ve ever forgotten to update your address or contact details, you could be entitled to lost money from bank accounts, shares, investments and life insurance policies.
- Category: Personal
Most people don’t think twice about their credit rating, also known as credit score, until it comes time to apply for a home loan. However, it’s something that a lender or bank will consider when assessing an application for credit.
- Category: Personal
Banking online has never been easier. It’s a convenient way to check your balance, make payments, transfer money, and manage your finances.
- Category: Personal
As the days start to get longer and warmer, it’s a popular time to dust off the cobwebs and give the house a thorough spring clean.
- Category: Personal
Scamwatch has urged people to be wary of phone messages from a family member or friend claiming they need help, following a significant rise in text message scams.
- Category: Personal
Your tax return can often feel like free money, but it’s not – you’ve worked hard throughout the year to earn it.
Whether you’re a steadfast saver or someone who usually blows their entire tax return only to regret it later, there are several things you could do to make the most of your tax return.
- Category: Personal
“Buy Now, Pay Later” (BNPL) is often promoted as a cheaper alternative to credit cards, but new research shows it could end up costing you more.
- Category: Personal
It’s a good idea to do a health check on your home loan every 12 months to make sure it’s still helping you to meet your financial goals.
- Category: Personal
Meet Rheannon, our lender for the mid North Coast and Hunter region.
- Category: Personal
Most of us use online banking almost every day, however, are you familiar with all of the features the BCU Bank app has to offer? Here are eight great features you might not know about our app.
- Category: Personal
A little-known fact is that Apple has 'privacy labels' that help you see what kind of data is being collected by your apps.
Make sure you’re ready for tax time by getting your financial affairs in order now.
- Category: Personal
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ lending indicators data for December 2020, the value of renovations and additions reached a record high of $941.6 million at the end of 2020 nationally.
With the property market in overdrive, many home owners are busy planning upgrades to their home in preparation for selling.
- Category: Personal
If this year has taught us anything, it’s that financial setbacks or stress can happen, even with the best laid plans and intentions. We can’t always predict certain life events, such as a marriage breakdown, job loss, ill health or personal injury, which can all quickly derail your financial goals or leave you struggling.
- Category: Personal
This week marks National Scam Awareness Week for 2020.
- Category: Personal
2020 has had a far-reaching impact on all Australians and has undoubtedly thrown many of us a lot of curveballs. Whether you have been directly impacted by job or income loss, a fall in the value of your superannuation or investments, or even if you’re using this time to bunker down and get ahead, budgeting has never been more important.
- Category: Personal
Meet our Macksville local Home Loan Specialist – Katrina Hicks
- Category: Personal
In recent weeks, our communities have received a large amount of information about the Coronavirus that has left many feeling anxious, confused and helpless.
- Category: Wavelength - News
How can I make purchases without using cash?
With the recent changes to the way businesses are now trading, many retailers are no longer accepting cash payments. Steering away from cash is a good way to limit the transmission of potentially harmful disease in these times, but what about shopping for essential items and paying bills?
- Category: Personal
When it comes to supermarkets, it may not surprise you to know they cleverly use behavioural economics research to design the optimal shopping experience. But is this done for you, or for them? When you walk into a supermarket, the game is between you and the sales and marketing teams that designed that supermarket.
- Category: Personal
Buying online can have its advantages - 24/7 shopping, no need to brave the crowds, delivered right to your door, and now, for many retailers, the ability to buy now and pay later.
- Category: Personal
There are so many good reasons to start saving money! It might be for that holiday you’ve been planning, your dream home that you’re finally looking at buying, or you may simply want to set money aside for unexpected bills and expenses. No matter what type of budget you have, finding ways to save money can help you learn to manage your money better and live more comfortably in the future.
- Category: Personal
Picture this - it’s Thursday evening and you’re relaxing in front of the television while scrolling through your social media account absent-mindedly.
- Category: Personal
Did you know that some of the advertisements you may see on popular social networking sites might be a scam?
- Category: Personal
We sat down with bcu's Sunshine Coast Lender David Cawthorne to discuss investment home loans.
- Category: Students
How a scholarship can make a difference to your education.
- Category: Personal
Transitioning between jobs can be an exciting time; although with change comes stress and with changing jobs, can come financial stress.
- Category: Personal
South-east Australia is known for getting chilly during winter, bringing in the peak time for bills; so here are 5 ways to save this winter.
- Category: Personal
Just how exercising and eating healthy can help you get into shape, it’s also important to take on healthy financial habits to keep your accounts in shape too.
- Category: Personal
When you choose to bank with a customer owned banking institution, there are a number of benefits you can enjoy.
- Category: Students
Now that uni is in full-swing here are some tips and insights to help you save money at uni.
- Category: Students
The time has come to take that leap into your next stage in life... university. Before you get overwhelmed by it all, it’s good to know the perks of uni life - because there are plenty.
- Category: Personal
In preparation for the launch of the New Payments Platform (NPP) in early 2018, we explore the PayID.
- Category: Personal
A great checklist you can look at, before inspecting or purchasing a vehicle at the car yard.
- Category: Personal
Spring is in full swing, but those who live on the east coast of Australia know that the storm season often comes along with the warmer, humid weather. You won’t need to worry too much about the seasonal activity if you have an action plan in place for your property. Here are eight tips to help:
- Category: Kids
With these easy to follow lessons about saving money, you can teach your children how to be well-equipped with financial independence, and thrive in the world on their own.
- Category: Personal
Getting your first credit card may seem like the most exciting part of stepping into adult life.
- Category: Students
Living life on the edge and not worrying about the future may seem like a thrill in the beginning, but you’d be surprised how beneficial insurance can be, especially for students. The world of insurance services is endless, so this guide is here to help you figure out which one best suits you and your lifestyle.