Community First Bank is a member-owned financial institution based in New South Wales. Established in 1959, it operates as a mutual bank, meaning its customers rather than shareholders own it. With a presence across regions such as Western Sydney, the Central Coast, and the Northern Beaches, the bank offers a range of retail banking services, including savings accounts, home loans, personal loans, and insurance. Community First also supports digital banking tools like PayID and mobile payments, while maintaining a network of physical branches.

Known for a sustainable approach to investment and long-term financial stability, member deposits are protected under the Australian Government’s Financial Claims Scheme. The bank also provides a variety of financial products aimed at different life stages, including accounts for children, retirees, and environmentally conscious borrowers.

Community First origins

Community First has been operating since 1959, when employees of the Metropolitan Water, Sewerage and Drainage Board, now Sydney Water, established a credit union to improve financial access for their colleagues. Membership was initially limited to board staff, reflected in its original name: the Sydney Water Board Officers Credit Union.

Over the years, it grew through a series of mergers and rebranding efforts, eventually becoming Community First Credit Union and later Community First Bank. By integrating with several other credit unions, it strengthened its reach while reinvesting profits back into its members rather than distributing them to external shareholders.

At present

Community First Bank offers a wide range of financial products and services designed to meet the everyday needs of its members. These include savings and transaction accounts, personal and home loans, credit cards, insurance, and term deposits, available both online and through a network of local branches. Members benefit from modern payment solutions like Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, PayID, and a user-friendly mobile banking app.

In a major step forward, members of both Community First Credit Union and Illawarra Credit Union voted in favour of a merger in December 2024. The combined organisation serves close to 80,000 members and manages assets totalling around $2.5 billion.