Using finance for impact

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What is impact finance?

Impact finance is how we contribute to a world where people and the planet thrive – through the people, businesses and projects that we lend to and invest in.

Where you put your money matters

Impact finance is how we put your money where it matters. It's rewarding customers for choosing to build or renovate an energy efficient home. It's finding new homes for people living with a disability. It’s backing developers that are building accessible and net zero homes.

How impact finance works

We're guided by our responsible banking policy, which sets out what we do and don’t lend to. This helps us focus on people and businesses working towards a future of clean energy, inclusive housing, and not-for-profits.

Here are some examples of the kinds of work we do:

Inclusive and accesible banking

We lend to community housing providers to help them build affordable and social housing for people who need it, and specialist disability accommodation providers that build accessible homes for people with complex care needs.

Not-for-profits and for-purpose businesses

We lend to not-for-profit and for-purpose community and business customers who provide vital services and advocacy in areas like disability support, education and environmental conservation.

Clean energy transition

We help customers make sustainable choices, like using our Clean Energy Home Loan to buy or build a home with a low impact on our environment, and support developers to build green apartments.

Our customers

We help first home buyers get into the market, through schemes like the Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme and the Australian Government Help to Buy Scheme

Other banks and government bonds

We invest in green and sustainability bonds to align our investments with our values wherever we can. This funds projects like low carbon transport and wind farms.

Why impact finance?

Banking with values

Through impact finance and together with our customers, we’re disrupting the notion that values and banking are mutually exclusive.

Clean money at work

Impact finance brings responsible banking to life. Who we do business with, and why, matters.

Industry expertise

Impact finance is led by experts in fields including affordable housing and clean energy transition.

Sustainable goals

We align impact finance with the United Nations sustainable development goals. These set a global blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all.

Negative screens

We use ‘negative’ screens in our assessment of loan applications to make informed decisions about who we lend money to

B Corp certified

As a certified B Corporation, we meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability.

Meet our customers

"The thing I like about banking with Bank Australia is really just knowing that my money's in a good place."

Noah | Bank Australia customer
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Meet our customers

"The thing I like about banking with Bank Australia is really just knowing that my money's in a good place."

Noah | Bank Australia customer
Meet more
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Customer stories

Caring for Country: How the Nari Nari People are restoring a vital wetland

How Bank Australia’s new Impact Term Deposit works – and where your money goes

Native planting: Sustainability and biodiversity for your garden

800km for truth-telling: Australia's Walk for Truth

We're continuing our partnership with Seed Indigenous Youth Climate Network

What B Corp certification actually requires of Bank Australia and what it means for customers

Customer ownership makes banks bolder, and that’s what we need right now

Celebrating women, leading change: 6 organisations building safer, fairer futures

How this culturally safe birth program is reshaping maternity care for Aboriginal mums and our next generation

View more stories
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Contact the impact lending team

If your organisation needs debt to scale its impact, get in touch with our impact lending team.