Our Approach
BOQ recognises that maintaining a social license to operate demands a commitment to creating shared value for the communities in which we operate. We seek to earn the backing necessary to operate through supporting home ownership and business expansion, stimulating economic growth through lending, facilitating payments, paying taxes, and providing employment and income for BOQ people, franchisees and suppliers. Along with these efforts we also contribute by shaping public policy for the good of the wider economy and through financial investment in not-for-profit organisations and social enterprises.
Community Investment
At BOQ, we pride ourselves in being the Human Kind of Bank. This means we go beyond our relationship model and commit to being an organisation that puts people, customers and community at the centre of all that we do. Fostering strong and enduring relationships with our communities has been and will continue to be an integral part of the BOQ story.
Our focussed approach to community investment ensures we leverage our strengths to create lasting impact. We create social impact through two key focus areas, community support and empowerment, and financial empowerment and wellbeing. We ensure there are opportunities for our people to get involved to support our partners through volunteering opportunities and donation drives.
Community Partnerships
BOQ’s partnerships aim to make a real difference for key groups of vulnerable Australians. These partnerships provide financial and non-financial support. BOQ’s focus on partnerships, rather than one-off donations, means we can create truly meaningful long-term relationships with our partners to enable our staff and customers to become more involved and give back to the communities in which we operate.
150 years in the Community
In 2024, BOQ celebrated turning 150 years. In June 2024, we launched the ‘Vehicle for Kindness’, a mobile truck delivering free essential items and ‘Acts of Kindness’ to Queensland communities aligned to our community partners in need of support.
In a time where more people than ever are turning to charities for help as the cost of living rises, the initiative was created in the hope of making a real difference in the lives of Australians who are in need of a helping hand - while supporting Orange Sky, Angels Community Group Bundaberg and Clontarf Foundation and Stars Foundation.
Across five days, the Vehicle for Kindness travelled a huge 1,350 kms across Queensland; starting in Brisbane through to Bundaberg, before making its final stop in Townsville, to mark BOQ’s 150 years of service in the Queensland community as The Human Kind of Bank.
National Fundraising Partner
Orange Sky Australia
BOQ has partnered with Orange Sky since 2019.
Orange Sky’s mission is to positively connect communities by providing free safe hot showers and clean clothes to those doing it tough around Australia. Orange Sky is focused on creating a safe, positive and supportive environment for people who are too often ignored or who feel disconnected from community.
Each year BOQ dedicates the month of July to ‘Orange Sky July’ where its people come together to raise funds and awareness through our people and branches.
Along with financial support and volunteering opportunities, BOQ is proud to share knowledge and skills with Orange Sky’s people and to host Orange Sky events and sessions at our corporate headquarters.
Visit: Orange Sky Australia
Community Partnerships
Community Partner: Clontarf Foundation
The Clontarf Foundation exists to improve the education, discipline, life skills, self-esteem and employment prospects of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait men and, by doing so, equips them to participate meaningfully in society.
BOQ’s partnership initially commenced in 2017 with funding being directed into the expansion of Clontarf in Queensland. Now, BOQ’s partnership has expanded to support young men in the program nationally.
BOQ’s support aims to increase the number of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men who have access to the Clontarf program.
Along with financial support, BOQ engages with students from the program through local community events, employment expos and Clontarf Leadership events hosted at BOQ Head Office
In 2023 BOQ launched its new financial literacy activity, ‘Budget Like a Boss”, which facilitates an introduction to budgeting and helps Clontarf students to understand the basics and importance of money management.
Visit: Clontarf Foundation
Community Partner: Stars Foundation
Stars Foundation provides full-time, intensive mentoring support programs to young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in secondary schools in the Northern Territory, Queensland and Victoria.
BOQ Group has proudly partnered with the Stars Foundation since 2019 when we supported the expansion of Stars Foundation in North Queensland. Since then, we’ve continued to develop our relationships and provided engagement opportunities for shared learning.
In 2023, BOQ launched its new financial literacy activity, ‘Budget Like a Boss', which facilitates an introduction to budgeting and helps Stars students to understand the basics and importance of money management. We also engage with the young women through corporate office visits and networking and empowerment sessions.
Visit: Stars Foundation
Employee Initiatives
Dollar-for-Dollar Program
Dollar-for-Dollar program matches employee fundraising for registered charities, dollar-for-dollar up to $1,000. This program supports the causes that our staff feel passionate about and encourages team and individual fundraising efforts. Each year, BOQ invests $50,000 to the Dollar for Dollar fundraising program.
Workplace Giving Program
Workplace Giving Program, Good2Give allows employees to provide ongoing support to the charity of their choice by donating a nominated amount from their pay. Employees have the option to set up one-off or ongoing donations and can help more than 1,800 registered charities.
Volunteering
BOQ encourages staff to volunteer with our fundraising partners. Volunteering opportunities include assisting at charity events, skilled volunteering, team volunteering and special event projects. All volunteering opportunities aim to support BOQ’s partners, ultimately supporting vulnerable Australians.