Thumbs up to the National Bank of Australia. Their recently launched Corporate Social Responsibility Report, 2006 , indicates an increase in community investment to 1% of pre-tax profit.

As part of their Corporate Social Responsibility, The National Australia Bank is “investing in the local communities in which we operate” and providing “private resources for public good – this is based on a genuine desire to make a meaningful contribution to society.”

Waiving bank fees or charges for financially disadvantaged or charitable entities, releasing staff on full pay for two days voluntary service per year, and community partnerships with staff nominated community groups are only a few of the ways that the National Australia Bank is improving the life of individual families and children.

Spread throughout the world, The National Australia Bank Group provides a comprehensive range of financial products and services organised around three regional businesses: Australia , United Kingdom (Clydesdale Bank and Yorkshire Bank) and New Zealand (BNZ). Each of these countries mirror the philosophy of the Corporate Social Responsibilities of the National Australia Bank. This equates to the real winners being global families: communities without borders.

In Australia, an on-line data base of community programs allows employees to find and register for volunteering opportunities. In the UK team challenges encourage groups of bank staff to accomplish a chosen community project in a day. In addition, financial sponsorship of literacy and numeracy programs throughout the UK are well established. New Zealand is less well organised with staff volunteering on an ad-hoc basis. However, it is the ad-hoc response that often provides the most appropriate and needed support to a particular community need. Not to be left out, American staff (nabCapital, New York) last year supported a community pantry that supplies emergency foodstuffs to disadvantaged neighbourhoods.

Reaching out and assisting community groups working with child disadvantage, social exclusion, barriers of participation and child abuse has more than a positive effect on a community. You may never know of the sparking moment it has provided to just one family, one child. In years to come, it may be your single day of volunteering that has made the major difference to a child’s life of not staying trapped in inequality and disempowerment.

Thumbs up to the National Australia Bank and The National Australia Bank Group. Congratulations, thank you and keep up your great work. Does anyone else have a supportive comment to offer them?