Banking on Lismore

  • Floods

NAB has been part of the Lismore community for more than 140 years. Following the devastation caused by the floods earlier this year, NAB rebuilt its Lismore branch and opened the doors last week.

  • 15.08.2022
  • Time to read 1 min read
Share

Share

In early 2022, Lismore was one of many Australian communities devastated by flood.

Floodwaters engulfed homes and store fronts, leaving a trail of destruction.

NAB Customer Advisor Sally Davis has lived in Lismore for more than thirty years. Her house was a point of refuge for her neighbours being evacuated.

"The amount of rubbish piled up, the crying, the devastation...you just can’t forget that.”

Jessica Day, Lismore Branch Manager

Life turned upside down

NAB’s Lismore Branch Manager, Jessica Day, has worked at NAB for 16 years.

The Lismore branch was one of many local stores destroyed in the floods.

The devastation caused has seen Jess and her team focus on supporting the community and rebuilding the Lismore branch to support customers.

 

"This is an amazing community and we’re a strong bunch. Somehow, we’ll make it happen. But we need a lot of support.”

Sally Davis, Lismore Customer Advisor

The challenge for Lismore

The Lismore community rallied to start the long road to recovery.

 

A community mobilises

NAB set up its portable ‘Bank in a Box’ to support the local community with banking services and NAB colleagues also used their volunteer leave to lend a hand in the clean-up efforts.

NAB Ready Together – a program to support Australians before, during and after natural disasters – provided more than $4.85 million in disaster relief funding.

More than news

The first two floors of the The Koori Mail’s premises flooded. The damage saw Australia’s national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander newspaper unable to print.

General Manager Naomi Moran and the Koori Mail team set up a crisis response centre at the premises; providing food, clothing and daily support to First Nations people and the wider community in and around Lismore.

 

"The kindness and the generosity of people has been completely invaluable to how people see themselves being able to recover from this flood event."

Naomi Moran, General Manager, Koori Mail

NAB rebuilds with Lismore

Four months into the recovery process, NAB has reopened its permanent branch in the heart of town.

For Jessica Day, it’s a step closer to much needed normality for everyone.

 

 

“We’re very excited to get back here, to be really present for the community, to be a fully functional branch again.”

Jessica Day, Lismore Branch Manager

More to do

There is still more to do as these communities rebuild and NAB is here to help.

In May the NAB Foundation announced 39 local and regional community groups across Australia will receive grants of up to $10,000 to help them prepare for, or recover from, natural disasters.

As part of this funding, NAB delivered well over half a million dollars in grants to customers in Lismore from 28 February 2022 to 14 April 2022.

“NAB has been part of the Lismore community for more than 140 years and we know it has a vibrant and historically strong local economy,” said NAB CEO Ross McEwan.

“Providing a temporary branch and committing to a rebuild was a quick and vital decision that reflects our commitment to being there for Australians before, during and after natural disasters.”

If you are in need of disaster or crisis support, NAB is here to support. Find out how we can help here.

Related Articles

  • Disaster relief

NAB offers Disaster Relief Grants to Victoria

NAB launches relief measures for customers affected by major storms in Victoria which commenced 25 August 2024.

  • 10.09.2024
  • Time to read 2 min read
  • Disaster relief

NAB offers Disaster Relief Grants to Tasmanians impacted by severe weather

NAB is providing $1,000 grants and additional financial relief to customers severely impacted by the severe weather in the Derwent Valley and Central Highlands, to assist them in the immediate aftermath. 

  • 04.09.2024
  • Time to read 2 min read
  • Branches

NAB Traralgon’s modern makeover after a century of service

NAB’s Traralgon branch, which has had a presence in the community for nearly 140 years, is undergoing on a significant transformation with a $2.3 million refurbishment.  

  • 13.08.2024
  • Time to read 1 min read

Quick links

Environment and sustainability

Find out how NAB is adopting a sustainable approach to managing our business, and helping our customers to do so.