People First Bank

Here's the current landscape for credit unions in Australia. Quick note: most Australian credit unions have rebranded as "mutual banks" or "customer-owned banks" over the past decade due to regulatory changes, but they operate on the same not-for-profit, member-owned model — profits go back to members via better rates and lower fees rather than shareholders.

Most Popular / Widely Used Options

Great Southern Bank (formerly CUA) – One of the largest customer-owned banks in the country, popular for home loans and everyday banking, with a strong branch and digital presence.

People First Bank – Formed from the 2023 merger of Heritage Bank and People's Choice Credit Union, making it Australia's largest mutual bank by member numbers. Strong in home loans, car loans, and everyday accounts.

Newcastle Permanent – One of the biggest building societies/mutuals, especially popular in NSW for home loans and term deposits.

Teachers Mutual Bank Group – Actually a group of five brands (Teachers Mutual Bank, UniBank, Firefighters Mutual Bank, Health Professionals Bank, and Hiver) targeting specific professions with tailored products and competitive home loan rates.

Beyond Bank – One of the larger mutuals, known for ethical banking credentials and solid savings/home loan products, strong presence in SA and expanding nationally.

Bank Australia – Popular with environmentally and ethically conscious customers; well known for not investing in fossil fuels, weapons, or gambling, and for carbon-neutral operations.

RACQ Bank / RACV Bank – Popular in Queensland and Vict

In Australia, the traditional "credit union" landscape has evolved. While some pure credit unions still exist, most of the country's top-tier, member-owned institutions have rebranded or merged into "mutual banks" or "customer-owned banks".

They operate on the exact same customer-first model as credit unions—where profits are reinvested into better rates, lower fees, and community programs rather than paid to external shareholders—but they carry the "bank" title and have the scale to offer modern digital banking features. Additionally, like the "Big Four" banks, all customer-owned banks are protected by the Australian Government’s Financial Claims Scheme, meaning your deposits are guaranteed up to $250,000.

The best customer-owned institutions and products in Australia include several standout brands:

1. Bank Australia (Best for Ethical Banking & Digital)

If you want to move away from the big banks for environmental or ethical reasons, Bank Australia is the premier choice. It is a certified B Corp and maintains a strict policy of not lending to industries that cause harm, such as fossil fuels, tobacco, or live animal export. They recently expanded their footprint even further by merging with Qudos Bank.

• Recent Accolades: Named Money magazine’s Customer-Owned Bank of the Year and Digital Bank of the Year.
• Top Products:
  • Everyday Access Account: A straightforward, clean daily account with an excellent mobile app.
  • Clean Energy Home Loan: This product offers discounted interest rates for buying or building energy-efficient, low-emission homes.

2. Beyond Bank (Best Mobile App & Customer Trust)

Originally starting as a credit union, Beyond Bank is one of the largest 100% member-owned mutual banks in the country. They are widely praised for their transparency, customer support, and market-leading technology.

• Recent Accolades: Won Canstar's Customer-Owned Digital Banking Award, and recognized in Finder’s Customer Satisfaction Awards for Most Trusted Bank Account and Legendary Service.
• Top Products:
  • Beyond Bank Mobile App: Highly praised for its budgeting tools, easy account management, and clean user experience.
  • Purple Saver Account: Frequently recognized for offering competitive, high-interest savings rates with achievable deposit conditions.

3. Great Southern Bank (Best for First Home Buyers & Scale)

Formerly known as CUA (Credit Union Australia), Great Southern Bank is Australia's largest customer-owned bank. They have the size and digital capability of a major bank but keep the customer-owned, community-centric focus. They are particularly popular with younger Aussies and first-time buyers.

• Recent Accolades: Highlighted in Mozo’s People’s Choice Awards for Outstanding Customer Satisfaction and Mobile Banking Experience.
• Top Products:
  • The Home Loan Range: Great Southern Bank is a major participant in the Australian Government's First Home Guarantee schemes, helping Aussies get into the property market with small deposits.
  • Home Savings Accounts featuring "The Vault": A clever feature in their app that allows you to "hide" your savings from your everyday balance to stop you from spending them on impulse purchases.

4. People First Bank (Best for Home Loans & East Coast Presence)

People First Bank is a newly established powerhouse formed by the massive merger of Heritage Bank and People’s Choice Credit Union. With over 730,000 members and a history spanning 150 years, they have major physical presence across Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, and NSW.

• Recent Accolades: Won the Canstar Most Satisfied Customers Award for Home Loans.
• Top Products:
  • Basic Variable Home Loan: Often ranks highly for offering low fees and highly competitive interest rates.
  • Community Lottery and Grants: If you like your bank to give back, they fund grassroots sports clubs and local charities.

5. Teachers Mutual Bank (Best for Key Workers & Educators)

Specifically built for teachers, education workers, and their families, Teachers Mutual Bank recently became even larger after merging with Australian Mutual Bank. They also run niche brands like UniBank, Firefighters Mutual Bank, and Health Professionals Bank.

• Recent Accolades: Won the Canstar Most Satisfied Customers Award for Customer-Owned Bank.
• Top Products:
  • Key Worker Mortgages: Highly competitive home loans with specific perks and flexible criteria for educators and essential service workers.

6. Newcastle Permanent (Best for Customer Service)

Part of the NGM Group, Newcastle Permanent is a massive regional customer-owned brand that holds legendary status in New South Wales (particularly the Hunter region).

• Recent Accolades: Awarded Money magazine’s Bank of the Year – Customer Service.
• Top Products:
  • Home Loan Refinancing: Named Canstar’s Customer-Owned Bank of the Year for Home Loan Refinance due to their low-fee, highly competitive transition packages.

Which one should you choose?

• If you want values-aligned, ethical banking: Go with Bank Australia.
• If you want a seamless app that helps you save: Choose Beyond Bank or Great Southern Bank.
• If you are a first-home buyer: Look closely at Great Southern Bank or People First Bank.
• If you work in education, healthcare, or emergency services: Check out Teachers Mutual Bank.

Top credit unions (or customer-owned banks/mutuals) in Australia that people commonly use and rate highly include Teachers Mutual Bank, People First Bank (formerly People’s Choice), Great Southern Bank (formerly CUA), Police Credit Union, and Beyond Bank.

These stand out in recent 2025 awards and customer satisfaction surveys for service, value, competitive rates on loans/savings/credit cards, and member focus (profits go back to members rather than shareholders). Many Aussies use them as alternatives to the big four banks for better personal service, competitive home loans, savings rates, or everyday banking, especially if they qualify for eligibility (e.g., profession or location) or value the mutual model.

Top Recommendations

Here are standout options based on awards, satisfaction data, size/popularity, and real-world usage:

• Teachers Mutual Bank: Named Money magazine’s Customer-Owned Institution of the Year for 2025. It earns praise for straightforward products, excellent member service, competitive rates (e.g., credit cards from 7.90%, home loans starting in the 5s, savings up to 4%), and strong outcomes for members. It’s popular among educators and the broader community for reliable, member-focused banking.

• People First Bank (ex-People’s Choice Credit Union): Tops YouGov customer satisfaction rankings for 2025 with the highest net satisfaction score among banks (70.4). It’s one of the larger players by assets and is widely used for its competitive products and strong member experience. Great for everyday banking and loans.

• Great Southern Bank (ex-CUA): One of Australia’s largest by assets and a frequent award winner (e.g., for personal loans). It’s commonly used nationwide for home loans, savings, and full banking services. It offers solid value and has a broad reach post-rebrand/merger activity.

• Police Credit Union: Won Mozo’s Australia’s Best Credit Union award in 2025 and has picked up Canstar recognition for green/personal loans. It’s open to the public (not just police) and valued for competitive, accessible products and strong customer focus.

• Beyond Bank: Regularly appears in high satisfaction rankings and is popular for its community-oriented approach and competitive offerings across banking products.

Other notables that frequently rate well include P&N Bank (strong Roy Morgan satisfaction), Bank Australia, and IMB Bank.

Key Advice for Choosing and Using One

Customer-owned institutions generally deliver higher satisfaction than major banks due to their focus on members, often with better rates or lower fees on key products like home loans or savings. Larger ones (e.g., Great Southern Bank, People First) have wider branch/ATM access and more polished apps, while smaller or niche ones excel in personalised service.

Eligibility matters — Many are now open to all Australians, but some (like Teachers Mutual or Police CU) started with specific groups and may still prioritise or offer perks to them. Check directly.

Compare based on your needs: Look at home loan rates, savings interest, transaction fees, credit cards, or app experience via sites like Canstar, Finder, or Mozo. Consider branches (if you want face-to-face), digital features, and any eligibility or location ties.

Practical tips:

• Many participate in shared ATM networks for fee-free access.
• Read recent product terms, as rates change.
• You can often join online quickly.
• For the latest, search comparison sites or the Customer Owned Banking Association (COBA) “Find a bank” tool.

These recommendations reflect recent awards (2025 data) and satisfaction surveys, where mutuals consistently outperform on service and value. What you need (e.g., a home loan vs. everyday account) will narrow it down further—shop around and check eligibility/reviews for your situation.