Unlocked capital boosts youth employment
Bendigo and Adelaide Bank, a Founding Member of the Shared Value Project, shares a new shared value case study on the Social Impact Loan Program, a join initiative with one of its Alliance Bank partners BDCU Alliance Bank.
Apprentices from all industries will have access to interest free loans to purchase their tools of trade, thanks to an innovative banking program.
In an industry first, Bendigo and Adelaide Bank and one of its Alliance Bank®partners, BDCU Alliance Bank® has developed the Social Impact Loan Program, addressing local community needs through an impact investing framework.
Following extensive community engagement Alliance Bank® partner, BDCU Alliance Bank®, identified youth employment in their region as a key social issue.
The $200,000 Apprenticeship Loan Package will provide apprentices with small unsecured, interest free loans up to $5,000 to buy their tools of trade. The package also includes discounts on tools from local suppliers, a financial literacy-mentoring program and a professional mentoring program.
BDCU CEO, Jan Edwards, said the Social Impact Loan Program supports community sustainability through seeding and fostering local business and saw this as just the beginning.
“The Social Impact Loan Program assists Alliance Bank® Partners to realise their social enterprise goals, and BDCU Alliance Bank® has set aside $200,000 of capital initially to fund the program,” Ms Edwards said.
“The opportunity gives young locals a career head start, access to funds they mightn’t otherwise have had and the support they need to budget and take control of their finances and their careers.
“Aside from the social value of the program, over the long term BDCU Alliance Bank® will benefit from ongoing loyalty from program participants.
“We’re really excited to launch this package in November, and we hope this is the first of many such programs that Alliance Bank partners can offer to the community,” she said.
Jan Edwards from BDCU Alliance Bank® and Sam Moore from Bendigo Adelaide Bank discuss Shared Value and Social Impact Loans at the 2016 Purpose Conference
The potential for the Social Impact Loan Program is significant as it replaces the data driven approach of modern day lending with local decision-making, prioritisation, oversight and knowledge.
Head of Alliance Bank®, Carolyn Adams said the program also enables Alliance Bank® partners to meet community and member needs specific to their region.
“Every community is faced with funding gaps and the Social Impact Loan Program has the potential to address a range of societal needs such as crisis accommodation, disability services and environmental initiatives,” Ms Adams said.
“Powered by the release of member capital that is enabled through the Alliance Bank® partnership, each mutual company will govern the reinvestment of funding, targeting programs and issues that are most critical to address in their communities.
“We believe the Social Impact Loan Program could develop a critical and sustainable pipeline of investment opportunities through providing an empowering framework to Alliance Bank® partners, their members and communities,” she said.
Rhys Hamilton, a 20-year old carpentry apprentice from the Southern Highlands and among the first to participate in the program said, “This means I can get the tools I need; I am buying a drop saw and laser level. I want to do a good job and having the right tools will make a big difference. I couldn’t have bought them without BDCU’s help.”
Rhys’ employer, Shane McDonald of Wilderness Carpentry agrees, “BDCU Alliance Bank is helping young people by supporting them financially so they can stand on their own two feet. That’s really important, particularly in regional Australia, because young people tend to move to the city. We need to keep talent here and it’s great to see a local bank playing its part in keeping the local economy and community vibrant.”
Alliance Banks, which have an industry member base often spread across many states, are considering ways to support member’s family needs through similar apprenticeship programs or educational loans.
About Alliance Bank®
Established in 2014, Bendigo and Adelaide Bank and an initial alliance of four mutual companies – AWA, BDCU, Circle and Service One – created the Alliance Bank® model.
Alliance Partners provide infrastructure and staff to support customer-facing sales, servicing and operations, while Bendigo and Adelaide Bank is responsible for product, policy, systems, technology services and software supporting the banking business.
The Alliance Bank® mission is to develop a strong and valued social enterprise brand and reputation within their marketplace and for their members.
The potential for community investment under the Alliance Bank® model is significant. The largest 50 credit unions have combined capital of $6.85 billion with 3.2 million members nationally and 8,870 staff employed.
Under the Alliance Bank® model, Australian communities would have the potential to benefit from $6.85 billion in loans targeting local needs, on terms that were determined and assessed by locals with local knowledge.
A form of social enterprise, impact investment is developing a high profile internationally and locally as it seeks to create both financial returns and positive social impact.
Bendigo and Adelaide Bank has facilitated one of the largest “impact investments” internationally, being the $150 million contributed by over 73,000 individual shareholders to establish their own franchised Community Bank®branch of Bendigo Bank.
Download the case study
Read more shared value case studies from the region
