Commonwealth Bank

“The thing that I love the most about my role within the bank and refereeing is that sense of community and the opportunity to develop new skills. I never thought that I would end up in banking, I moved from Macedonia to Australia in 2012 and started out my career at the bank as a teller in 2016, 8 years after entering the banking world and I still enjoy every day of it. I’ve also been a football referee for 20 years now and have the pleasure of being on the Football Australia Match Officials Panel. When I started refereeing, I faced some challenges, like with many things in life, people will tell you that you’re not good enough. It’s ok to fail, as long as we learn from it. The feeling of success after failure is so much better. CommBank is really supportive and over the last 8 years I’ve been able to juggle my work life with my personal life. There’s a lot of opportunity within the bank to develop your career and skills and I feel lucky to be able to work both on and off the football field and to be a part of a company which helps to provide more opportunities for young people in football. From helping community clubs to sponsoring the CommBank Matildas, there’s a lot that we do, and for someone like me who’s so invested in football it makes working so much more enjoyable.” Andrej Giev Manager, Cash Risk and Securities Image Credit: Andrej Giev’s Archive

“When we launched our Indigenous art and apparel brand Miimi & Jiinda in 2018, we never dreamt that we’d be showing it at Australian Fashion Week just five years later – especially considering it was never about fashion in the first place. I started this as a side hustle selling the paintings my mother, Lauren Jarrett, and I spent every day painting side by side. My mother is a survivor of the Stolen Generations and we found painting together was a way of connecting and healing. Using bright colours and pastels, our paintings tell stories of Gumbaynggirr country on the New South Wales Mid North Coast. We realised these stories needed to be seen and heard so we started our business, Miimi & Jiinda, which means mother and sister. After some early success, we expanded into ceramics, then women’s and kids clothing, and now we’re in the realm of high fashion. It just exploded, and we went along for the ride. The most surreal moment was last year, showing our Burraaba resort collection as part of the Indigenous Fashion Projects runway at Australian Fashion Week. My brother, Minjarrah, opened the show with a traditional dance, and – in a major pinch-me moment – my mum closed the show in our collection’s final look. Despite our brand’s success though, it’s always been a very heartfelt business – it’s who we are, it’s our culture.” - Melissa Greenwood, Founder,  Miimi & Jiinda Check the comments for the link to the full story about Miimi & Jiinda or search for ‘Brighter’ on our website.

Can you imagine a time before EFTPOS? 💳    The year is 1984. You’re about to pay for your petrol at the servo when the attendant hands you one of the first ever EFTPOS machines.    It may not look like much, but this mighty machine revolutionised commercial payments, allowing businesses to receive electronic funds immediately.    The Burroughs EF 1810 was a popular early model used by merchants. The terminal even included a pin pad and receipt function.     Let us know if you remember 👇 

Preparing your business for tax time? You should confirm that your business records are in order, and you might want to think about what tax deductions you’re eligible to claim.

“It’s never too late to give something a go or to change your career path. I’d always had my eye on the Olympics, but after a career ending injury, I went from being a professional cyclist with my future planned, to trying to figure out where I could apply my skills next. The CommBank Grad Program stood out to me as they were looking for people from different backgrounds. I was a cyclist, who had studied criminology, so this resonated with me! I now realise it’s a misconception that you need to be highly technical to have a successful career in tech. While studying I fell in love with the idea of working in cyber crime, fascinated by the influence of technology and the thought of giving back to the Australian community. As a professional athlete I developed a variety of transferable skills, such as problem solving, collaboration and analysing my cycling opponents. These skills have all facilitated my transition to a career in tech. It’s been a privilege to share my story as part of CommBank’s partnership with Vogue Codes. I hope it will inspire others to keep chasing their passions, develop their skills and realise a career in tech can be for everyone." Holly T. X CommBank 

“I believe that generative AI is an inclusive technology. The potential of technology right now means that our imagination is the limit. You don’t necessarily have to know how to code; all you need to do is be able to imagine a better future.   It was a privilege to represent CommBank on the panel at the Vogue Codes Summit event last week. We addressed the intersections between advances in AI and how we engage with one of the most rapidly advancing technologies of our lifetime.   I’m so proud to participate in Vogue Codes and shine a light on the endless possibilities a career in technology, data and AI offers.”   Sonal Surana X CommBank

I was lucky enough to be part of the first SXSW Sydney in 2023 as part of CommBank’s sponsorship. It was such an exciting experience being up close with some of the newest technology and innovation globally, while celebrating creativity and culture. It was great connecting with a diverse group of forward-thinkers and change-makers that are leading the way in tech, since it plays such a crucial role in our ability to fulfil our customers’ needs here at the bank. I am looking forward to being in the thick of it again this year as CommBank return as a Super Sponsor of SXSW Sydney 2024. We are keen to explore new ways to challenge, educate and inspire attendees as well as share how the bank is reimagining customer experiences and helping build a more sustainable future. Damon Field, Senior Manager of Partnerships & Events

Did you know CommBank first began rolling out ATMs across Australia in 1981? 💳    You could visit your local CommBank branch to learn how to use this new technology with an ATM training machine. These machines allowed you to make practice transactions, so you knew exactly what you were doing when using the Autobank unassisted. 

“We are thrilled to be recognised as Australia’s most valuable brand in the Kantar BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands for 2024. This little blue plaque represents a mountain of hard work, creativity, big ideas and care from so many people who are passionate about listening, innovating and adding value for our customers and the community day-in, day-out. This one’s for you”   Jo Boundy, CMO Commonwealth Bank

“I really love working in Daylesford because of the community feel. Everybody knows each other and everybody talks to each other. Daylesford is a tourist town and during the tourist season there’s a real hum to the town. It’s such a picturesque part of the state with lots of artisan shops and businesses. Getting involved in community events is my favourite thing. We’re currently running a pay it forward scheme where our team donates money to the local café to pay for people's coffees when they might be having a bad day. The best thing about being the Branch Manager here in Daylesford is leading a team who really care about their customers and helping the team not only to develop but to get out into the community and get involved.” Sharon Webb Branch Manager – Daylesford, Victoria