Australia is currently experiencing the worst bushfire season on record. If you are experiencing financial hardship as a result of this crisis, financial relief may be available. Several of Australia’s lenders have jumped on board to offer assistance to their affected customers and, more broadly, to the Australian community as a whole.
Below you will find a summary of what support financial institutions may be offering. You will also then find contact information for several major lenders. If you are unable to locate contact information specific to your lender please reach out to us as we may be able to point you in the right direction.
Each financial institution is offering slightly different support to customers. This support may include;
- Deferral of interest and repayments
- Loan restructuring and waiving of selected fees and charges
- Assistance with emergency accommodation
- Funding of new loans and loan top-ups
- Assistance with accessing term deposits early
- Emergency credit limit increases
- Expediting insurance claims for home, contents and car insurance policies
- Waiving certain fees and charges
- Agreements around forecloses or forced sales
- Concessional loans for businesses
- Grants to help cover temporary accommodation, food and clothing
- Terminal access fee waivers for customers with merchant facilities
- Putting a halt on all interest accrual on unsecured credit products
- Fast release of funds
- Card replacement, emergency cash and goodwill payments
- The provision of mental health support
Lender Contacts
ANZ
Customers impacted can contact a dedicated hotline on 1800 149 549.
Claims can be made online at https://www.anz.com.au/personal/insurance/make-a-claim/
Insurance customers can call 13 16 14.
Visit: anz.com/hardship
CBA
For information or to make a claim call 1300 720 814 or visit any branch.
If you're a business customer call 13 26 07 or your dedicated CommBank relationship manager.
Visit: https://www.commbank.com.au/support/emergency-assistance-package.html
NAB
NAB customers who have lost their homes can immediately access a $2,000 grant to assist with urgent needs. These funds will be deposited direclty into the customer accoutns as early as the next business day.
NAB employees who have had to evacuate their homes can also access a 1,000 grant.
Call NAB’s dedicated team on 1300 023 429.
Customers impacted by the loss of a home who need assistance can also visit their nearest open NAB branch, contact their banker directly or call NAB Assist on 1300 683 106 (8am-8pm Mon-Fri, or 9am-1pm on Saturdays AEST/AEDT).
Visit: https://www.nab.com.au/about-us/social-impact/customers/natural-disaster-and-crisis-support
Westpac
Call the Westpac Assist Team on 1800 067 497. You can also contact your local branch or Relationship Manager.
Business customers should call 1800 029 749.
For insurance claims contact 1300 369 989.
Visit: http://www.westpac.com.au/disasterhelp
St George
If you’re experiencing financial hardship contact 1800 629 795.
For insurance claims contact 1300 655 489.
Visit: https://www.stgeorge.com.au/disasterrelief
Macquarie Bank
Customers should call 1800 806 310 for assistance.
Visit:
https://www.macquarie.com/au/personal/fire-emergency
https://www.macquarie.com/au/about/disclosures/financial-hardship
ING
If you’re experiencing financial hardship contact 13 34 64
To make a claim call 1800 611 422 (24/7)
Visit: https://www.ing.com.au/faq-result.html?faqid=7449
MyState
MyState Customer Care Team is available on 138 001.
CGU insurance policy holders wanting to make a claim should contact CGU Claims on 13 24 81.
Visit: https://www.mystate.com.au/about-us/support#/about-us/contact-us/financial-hardship
Resimac
Call 1300 793 741 or email arrears@resimac.com.au.
Visit: https://www.resimac.com.au/bushfire-support
Pepper Money
Call the hardship team on 1800 356 383, between 8:30am and 5:30pm, Monday to Friday (AEDT).
Email assist@pepper.com.au
Visit: https://www.pepper.com.au/lending/help-centre/customer-service/financial-hardship-assistance
Liberty Financial
Call 13 11 33
Email help@liberty.com.au
Direct message on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/liberty.social/
Visit: https://www.liberty.com.au/financial-hardship
La Trobe Financial
Call the Mortgage Help Team on 1800 620 639
For insurance claims call CGU Claims 24/7 on 13 24 80
Visit: https://www.latrobefinancial.com.au/
Rate Setter
Call 1300 768 710 Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.30pm AEST
https://www.ratesetter.com.au/
Other assistance available to residents of the Wingecarribee Shire Council
Mayoral Relief Fund
Wingecarribee Shire Council have launched a Mayoral Relief Fund for residents directly affected by the Green Wattle Creek or Morton fires. Residents can apply for $500 for a household or $250 for individuals. Identification may be required. To make a claim residents need to fill out the PDF form available here: https://www.wsc.nsw.gov.au/mrf
Free Mental Health Support
She Counselling
She Counselling is offering 5 free 60 minute counselling sessions for those directly affected by the Green Wattle Creek or Morton fires. She Counselling works with women over the age of 18. Services are provided in Mittagong.
Visit: https://shecounselling.com.au/
Call: 0412 707 242
Email: info@shecounselling.com.au
Nest Psychotherapy & Counselling
Nest Psychotherapy & Counselling is offering up to 4 free counselling sessions at their office in Picton. Online and phone crisis support is also available. Nest works with anyone over the age of 16 and extends a particular welcome to anyone from the LGBTQIA community.
Visit: https://nestcounselling.com.au/about/
Call: 0484 223 042
Email: hello@nestcounselling.com.au
Want to give back to your community?
Here are 3 great ways to support those affected by the devastation…
Celeste Barber - RFS
Australian Comedian Celeste Barber started a Facebook fundraising campaign on January 3, 2020. Money raised is going to The Trustee for NSW Rural Fire Service & Brigades Donations Fund. At the time of publication, this fund had raised nearly $50 million!
DONATE HERE: https://www.facebook.com/donate/1010958179269977/10157671223743418
My Sisters Keeper – RFS Masks
Ophelia Haragli is a Sydney cancer survivor who now advocates for cancer patients. She runs the ‘My Sisters Keeper’ Facebook page. When learning about our volunteer firefighters’ desperate need for respiratory masks, she couldn’t help but do something.
Ophelia started a fundraising campaign to raise money to buy masks to protect volunteers from the short and long term implications of breathing in smoke. In record time Ophelia researched and sourced the masks and got them out to RFS stations, right in the thick of the crisis. Her lifesaving work continues.
More information: https://www.facebook.com/Mysisterskeeperophelia
DONATE HERE:
Ophelia Haragli
BSB: 082231
Account number: 436029234
Description: MSK firefighters
World Wildlife Fund - Australian Wildlife and Nature Recovery Fund
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) works in partnership with a variety of organisations, communities and individuals to save the Australian environment. Among other things, their work focuses on protecting those endangered species most in need.
“It’s been estimated that around 1.25 billion animals have been killed across Australia to date. This includes thousands of koalas and other iconic species such as kangaroos, wallabies, kookaburras, cockatoos and honeyeaters burnt alive, and many thousands more injured and homeless.” (Source: WWF)
WWF are collecting funds to help save wildlife but also to assist in restoring our lost forests once the fires have cleared.
DONATE HERE: https://donate.wwf.org.au/donate/koala-crisis/koala-crisis?t=AP0120W03#gs.rno0gb
The team at Wilson Financial are happy to assist in any way, please contact our office on (02) 4860 3399 if you wish to talk to someone or need assistance connecting to these services.
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