Newcastle Permanent and Greater Bank boards endorse mutual merger

BY DAKOTA TAIT

The boards of Newcastle Permanent and the Greater Bank have both endorsed the proposal to merge the Hunter mutuals.

They've signed a Merger Implementation Agreement, meaning its now up to the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority to review the decision.

Together, the mutuals would have a combined customer base of almost 600,000 people.

Members will have the opportunity to have their say at meetings later this year. 

Both brands are expected to be retained as part of the merger, and there won't be any branch closures or forced redundancies for at least two years.

2022 Hunter Junior Life Savers of the year announced

BY SIOBHAN HARVEY 

Two of the regions most promising volunteers have been awarded the title of 'Newcastle Permanent Hunter Junior Lifesavers of the Year' over the weekend at the Hunter Branch Age Championships. 

The winners were 14-year-old Briella Gyler-Dial from Caves Beach Surf Life Saving Club and 13-year-old Taj Horadam from Redhead SLSC.

Monique Ramplin from Merewether SLSC was given a special mention and awarded a High Distinction for her efforts. 

Hunter Surf Life Saving president Henry Scruton said that local surf life saving clubs are about saving lives and building stronger communities and that the 2022 winners are the perfect candidates. 

"These young people are so impressive and are an asset to the surf life saving movement and to the beach safety of our community," Mr Scruton said. 

"The future of surf life saving will be in really good hands, these young ones have come in, had their interviews and have done extremely well." 

Mr Scruton said it is clear that the winners aspire to continue their work in surf life saving and keeping the community safe.

"They want to become IRB operators, drivers and patrol captains, they are really enthusiastic about the surf lifesaving movement which has thrilled us." 

Briella is working to inspire the next generation of lifesavers and advocate the importance of surf life saving. 

"Surf life saving is so important because lifesavers help prevent people drowning at beaches," she said. 

The awards at the championship were presented by Newcastle permanent's Swansea branch manager Brett Freebody. 

Newcastle permanent has had a long standing relationship with Hunter Surf Life Saving for over four decades and has just extended their support for the movement for another three years. 

"We have worked so well together because we are both committed to supporting our community," said Mr Freebody.

Source: Hunter Surf Life Saving 

Not here for good: Newcastle Permanent closure disappoints Wallsend MP

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

"When you think about Permanent, it means we're here for good."

That's the slogan popularised by the old Newcastle Permanent advertisements, however, it seems the brand may not be living up to that statement.

Another Newcastle Permanent branch has closed, leaving Lambton residents without a local branch.

Several banks have closed their Newcastle branches in the last few months in the move to get consumers to take advantage of online services instead, while the Permanent have closed vital bricks-and-mortar branches at the John Hunter Hospital and Callaghan University campus in addition to the Elder Street location.

Wallsend MP Sonia Hornery believes Australian financial institutions are abandoning disadvantaged people in regional areas.

"It's difficult for residents, especially the elderly or disabled, to get to another Newcastle Permanent branch a few kilometres away.

"It's all well and good for building societies to say you can do what you want online," Ms Hornery said, "but there are many people that don't have access to computers and there are many elderly and disabled people who like to actually talk to somebody.

"So taking away a service from the community is really taking away the opportunity for locals to communicate..." she continued.

Ms Hornery also fears there will be a loss of convenience which will hamper businesses on Elder Street and surrounds.

"With the closure of the Perm in Lambton," she said, "it means there are no services - no banks or building societies- making it difficult for local businesses to do their banking."