Community Bank • Lara District
Community Bank • Lara District
Our vision is to cultivate a dynamic and nurturing environment enriching the Lara and District Community.
Central to this vision is nurturing a culture of care, deepening belonging, and building strong community connections. As leaders, we facilitate innovation and partnerships, aiming to forge a lasting and positive impact that reinforces our unique community identity.
This approach is designed to empower personal growth, drive business development, and ensure communal prosperity, ultimately leading to a supremely healthy, supportive, and thriving community for all.
This community bank model is our point of difference from other banks.
We are unique in that the profits generated by our customers are shared with the community to strengthen and connect our local groups, schools and sporting clubs. The model is very simple – the more people we have banking with us, the more profits we can put back into Lara, Little River and Anakie.
Community Bank Lara District opened for business on 30th June 2009. Since then, we have positively impacted Lara District by putting $2.7m of our banking profits back into our community through grants, sponsorships, donations and scholarships. These profits have been shared with over 90 different groups across areas of health & well-being, education, emergency services, environment, sport & recreation, arts & culture and community facilities.
We have also collaborated with the City of Greater Geelong and other Community Banks in the Geelong region on large-scale projects such as the construction of bike paths and improving health facilities with the Barwon Health Foundation’s Bendigo Bank House Kids Rehabilitation Centre and Project North dental facility.
Lara District Community Enterprise Ltd (LDCE) is managed by board of volunteer Directors who govern the branch on behalf of our shareholders and who work with community groups to distribute the banking profits through our CIP.
Our aim is to support not-for-profit organisations who wish to undertake projects which will benefit and support our wider community.
We hold two rounds per year, during which groups apply for either a grant or sponsorship.
Rd 2 will open August 2, 2024 contact mail@ldce.com.au for more information
To be eligible to apply, a representative from the group must attend our information evening for the corresponding round.
Follow our socials, check our website or contact mail@ldce.com.au and ask to be added to our mailing list to receive notifications for upcoming rounds.
Click here for guidelines and eligibility criteria
When applying for a grant or sponsorship, it is recommended you have the following information at hand to complete your application:
We also offer university and TAFE/apprenticeship scholarships through the Community Enterprise Foundation. Again, check our social pages and website or contact mail@ldce.com.au for information and eligibility criteria to apply for these.
Click here for guidelines and eligibility criteria.
Sports equity scholarships can be applied for via discretion of a sporting group’s committee. The maximum amount available for these scholarships is $250 per individual nominated by the sporting group’s committee and can be used to cover costs such as membership fees or uniform.
Click here for guidelines and eligibility criteria.
The Board of Lara District Community Enterprise Ltd, along with staff of Community Bank Lara District look forward to working with our local groups to continue our strong support in enhancing and nurturing our wonderful community.
Keep up to date with our upcoming community investment programs, by visiting our Facebook or Instagram page.