It’s unlikely you’ve ever referred to your local service station as the ‘lifeblood of your local community’.

That’s exactly what NAB customer, BP Redland Bay, became when Tropical Cyclone Alfred struck in March this year.

As Redland Bay locals grappled with the aftermath of the cyclone, the local BP was one of the only places in town with power. Business owners Matt and Trent worked around the clock, even calling on friends and neighbours for help to keep their business running.

Business Banking Executive, Jose Da Silva, said the BP became a like a community hub.

“Locals who’d been cut off by flooded roads could access water, essential groceries, and critically, coffee,” Jose said. “The BP became the place where people could charge their devices and connect with the loved ones.

It wouldn’t have been possible without the proactive and quick-thinking of Augustine Disano, NAB Senior Business Banking Manager.

A few months earlier he’d helped the owners of BP Redland Bay, Matt and Trent, increase their asset finance limit to include back-up generators; sensing the critical role the machinery would play in keeping their business running.

“Augustine listened, understood the reasoning behind it, and backed us, ensuring we had the financial flexibility to act when it mattered most,” Matt said.

“Augustine didn’t just provide a loan; he listened to our needs, understood the risks, and supported us every step of the way.

“NAB wasn’t simply a bank to us during this critical time — it was a partner that helped us make a meaningful difference in our community.

“We now understand what it means when they say “NAB is more than money”. It’s the real, human support behind the numbers that made all the difference,” Matt said.

Jose, who is a local to the Redland Bay area also experienced damage to his home. He said the response to the cyclone was phenomenal. It involved teams from right across NAB and the local community.

“After the cyclone had passed, the roads were completely flooded. People couldn’t get in or out of Redland Bay — many locals experienced power outages for 5 to 10 days or more,” Jose said.

“I was chuffed with how NAB responded. So much work goes into planning so we can act quickly to support customers and colleagues. We were the first bank to announce Disaster Relief grants.

“Support could mean pausing repayments, helping people apply for grants, lending a listening ear, or offering services through our EAP program — which we also extended to our customers during this time.”

Another way we’re supporting the Redland Bay community is with boots on the ground in partnership with Disaster Relief Australia (DRA).

Through our partnership with DRA, NAB colleagues can volunteer to be part of much needed clean-up efforts following natural disasters.

NAB Foundation will more than quadruple its support for Disaster Relief Australia’s ‘NAB Foundation Recovery Crew’ over the next three years to help communities better prepare for and recover from disasters. It will bring total funding for the partnership to $5.2 million since 2023. Jose joined the 20-person strong NAB recovery crew in Redland Bay this week, who along with Andrew Irvine, helped a NAB customer who had a tree fell onto her garage during the cyclone.

“It was such a great experience to be able to give back to the community in a such a hands-on way,” Jose said.

“Being part of the recovery crew is simply another way we connect with our customers and the community in times of need,” he said.