Commitment to climate action

Our commitments Be net zero by 2040. Source 100% renewable energy for our offices and branches by 2030. Maintain carbon neutral certification under Climate Active. Enable our team members to become agents of change.

Build recovery and support resilience

Our commitments Support our customers’ access to housing upgrades that increase their physical resilience to extreme weather events. Promote affordable energy efficiency and the adoption of renewables. Advocate for our customers to maintain appropriate levels of home and contents insurance. Identify opportunities for the bank and our team members to support disaster responses.

Our commitments Embed climate risk governance across our business. Understand and manage climate risks and risk scenarios to ensure we are a sustainable bank for our customers today and in the future. Report annually against the Taskforce for Climate-related Financial Disclosure (TCFD) framework.

Our commitments Strategically partner with community, industry, NGOs, and government to advance tangible climate action. Continue working with COBA and BCCM to strengthen industry capacity in climate action and climate-related risk. Partner with service providers to decarbonise our procurement and supply chains. Share success stories to inspire our business banking customers towards achieving net zero emissions.

Climate Change Action Plan | Great Southern Bank

Climate change is accelerating, and the time for action is now. That’s why we’ve developed a Climate Action Plan (CAP), which outlines our focus areas and commitments, and the actions we will take to meet them over the next few years.

We will review and refine our CAP regularly to ensure our focus areas and commitments remain meaningful, relevant and in the best interests of our customers.

Alignment to purpose

Our approach to climate change aligns closely with our purpose of helping all Australians own their own home. After all, a house may not feel like a home without a safe and sustainable environment, and a thriving community around it.

Our Climate Action Plan

We are focusing on the areas we believe can have the biggest impact, meet the expectations of our customers, and our priorities as a responsible bank.

Our commitments

Be net zero by 2040.
Source 100% renewable energy for our offices and branches by 2030.
Maintain carbon neutral certification under Climate Active.
Enable our team members to become agents of change.

Our commitments

Support our customers’ access to housing upgrades that increase their physical resilience to extreme weather events.
Promote affordable energy efficiency and the adoption of renewables.
Advocate for our customers to maintain appropriate levels of home and contents insurance.
Identify opportunities for the bank and our team members to support disaster responses.

Our commitments

Embed climate risk governance across our business.
Understand and manage climate risks and risk scenarios to ensure we are a sustainable bank for our customers today and in the future.
Report annually against the Taskforce for Climate-related Financial Disclosure (TCFD) framework.

Our commitments

Strategically partner with community, industry, NGOs, and government to advance tangible climate action.
Continue working with COBA and BCCM to strengthen industry capacity in climate action and climate-related risk.
Partner with service providers to decarbonise our procurement and supply chains.
Share success stories to inspire our business banking customers towards achieving net zero emissions.

Download our Climate Action Plan

Our journey so far

For more than 75 years we have advocated for a fair and equitable Australia. Our name has recently changed, but our commitment tobeing a responsible bank and doing business the right way has not.

We continue to demonstrate strong financial performance and are well positioned for future growth. But we need to manage how we grow responsibly and do it in a sustainable manner.

2022

Accelerating our actions

First customer-owned bank to release a TCFD statement.
First Australian bank to measure their financed greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions using the Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials (PCAF) guidance.
Launched our first CAP including a commitment to net zero by 2040.

2021

Making a global commitment

Launched our first sustainability strategy.
Joined the United Nations Global Compact.
Become Climate Active certified carbon neutral.

2020

Measuring our climate impact

Commenced measurement of operational GHG emissions across our offices and branches.

“Climate change is accelerating, and the time for action is now. That is why Great Southern Bank has made responding to the issue a key priority within our sustainability strategy and our broader business.”

Paul Lewis

CEO and Managing Director

WHY CHOOSE US

Did you know we’re customer-owned?

That means no shareholders other than you, the customer. This way, our profits go back into new products and clever ways to help you manage your money.

Although our accounts have won awards, our true passion lies in helping everyday Australians reach their financial goals. And we’ve been doing so for over 75 years!