Westpac Bushfire Recovery Support Package

This program aims to provide support for customers and communities impacted by ongoing bushfires across Australia. It seeks to support the rural fires service, Westpac customers and a number of organisations assisting with the recovery process.

The program is in addition to the Westpac Disaster Relief Package. Together with existing measures in place, this program will include the following:
1. Personal banking customers
- Mortgage repayments paid for one year for customers who have lost their principal place of residence due to the bushfires (up to $1,200 per month).
- Interest-free home loans for customers to cover the gap between insurance payouts and rebuilding costs, subject to our credit criteria ($250 million allocation).

2. Business customers
- A grant of up to $15,000 to assist small businesses with the cost of refurbishing premises that have been destroyed during the bushfires.
- 2.83% p.a. three-year variable rate, low-interest rebuilding loans for business customers, up to $1 million individual loans ($1 billion allocation).
- No foreclosures for three years on any farming businesses in the affected areas.
- Fast track credit approvals to provide short-term assistance.
- A Comprehensive checklist has been created to help them navigate the various packages which have been made available at both State and Federal Government levels.

3. Community
- $3 million to provide emergency cash grants to customers in affected towns and regions.
- $500,000 donation to Financial Counselling Australia to support financial counselling services to people in affected towns and regions to help them through the recovery and rebuild.
- Volunteer fire fighters nationally can access the Disaster Relief Package.
- Appointing new role CEO, Bushfire Recovery to lead response. This includes mobile customer support teams deployed to affected towns and regions for localised decision-making.
- This is in addition to the more than $1 million already contributed to community groups such as The Salvation Army Emergency & Disaster Appeal, state-based volunteer services, and State bushfire appeals.

4. Westpac employees
- Uncapped paid leave for Westpac Group employees who are emergency services volunteers in bushfire affected areas (includes Fire, SES, Paramedic and Defence).
- Three days paid community volunteering leave for employees wanting to volunteer in bushfire affected areas.
- Up to $5,000 in emergency cash grants for employees in affected areas who need emergency relief.

Applicants are encouraged to contact their local branch, Relationship Manager or call the Westpac Assist team to discuss their eligibility.