A business for good
Macedon Ranges Community Enterprises Ltd is a certified social enterprise whose primary purpose is to invest profits in our local community.
As a community-built local business, we are owned by local shareholders and operated by a Board of local volunteer directors.
We generate revenue as a franchisee of Bendigo Bank, and 80% of our profits are returned to the local area through grants, sponsorships, donations and scholarships.
Our company was set up in 2008 to provide an independent revenue stream for community development in the southern Macedon Ranges to help our region and towns thrive.
We manage the ongoing operational performance of Community Bank Gisborne & District, so that profits can be returned to the local community.
Our mission is to be a substantial, sustainable community-focused enterprise that contributes to community prosperity.
Our purpose has always been to feed into the prosperity of our customers and our community, not off it. Because we believe that successful businesses build successful communities - and vice versa. This is called the ‘positive cycle’ of community banking.
What is a social enterprise?
We are proud to be part of the largest social enterprise movement in Australia – possibly even the world.
Our community bank branch is part of a network of over 300 community banks that have contributed a total of $366 million to their local communities.
In 2024, we achieved Social Traders certification, confirming our social enterprise status and taking our “profit for purpose” model to the next level.
To maintain this certification, we must reinvest at least 80% of our profits in the local community each year. In addition, social enterprises must:
have a defined primary social, cultural or environmental purpose consistent with a public benefit
derive a substantial portion of their income from trade
invest effort and resources into public and community benefit that outweighs private benefit.
These are also the core attributes that underpin the Community Bank model.
In 2008, local businessman Viv Glenister sought a bank as an anchor tenant for his new office building in Gisborne. After being turned down by a major bank, he explored the idea of a Community Bank. Support quickly grew from a diverse group of locals—including retailers, estate agents, financial advisors, small business owners, and engineers—all united by the vision of creating a bank that offered genuine personal service.
A key figure in the project was retired State Bank manager Maurie Bourke, who chaired the Founding Board and used his local connections to drive the campaign. The community’s support was overwhelming, with 270 pledges totaling $716,400, including $450,000 pledged at the first public meeting.
Community Bank Gisborne & District opened its doors on 19 November 2008 and has since reinvested over $4 million into the local community.
Photo top: Our founding board at the newly opened Community Bank Gisborne & District branch on 19 November 2008.
Photo bottom: Community members celebrate the branch opening on 19 November 2008.How it all began
17 years of community giving
Since 2008, we’ve proudly invested over $4 million in grants, sponsorships, scholarships, and donations across towns in the southern Macedon Ranges. This incredible impact has only been possible thanks to our amazing community—our shareholders who backed our community-built business from the very beginning, our dedicated branch team who deliver legendary service every day and, most importantly, our customers who choose to support their local community by banking with us.
