The Board of Unity Bank is pleased to announce that following the successful merger of G&C Mutual Bank and Unity Bank in March 2025, the long-planned transition of CEOs took effect this week.
As detailed in the Member Information Document, and an integral part of the merger process, the initial CEO Danny Pavisic was scheduled to step aside after taking on the role in March 2025 and Rosanna Argall has re-assumed the role of CEO (having served as the CEO of G&C Mutual Bank until the merger in March 2025).
The timing of the transition provides for a smooth handover as the bank moves through its annual Board strategic planning cycle and provides an opportunity for Rosanna to continue to enhance on the integration that has already taken place since March 2025, overseen by Danny.
In announcing the transition, Mr. Pavisic, who has been with Unity Bank for 21 years, the last 6 as CEO said, “it has been an honour to lead the bank during the merger process, in particular as the team met the challenge of bringing two highly successful entities together and guaranteeing our collective future.”
Unity Bank Chair, Steve Helmich paid tribute to Mr. Pavisic, noting “the Board is very appreciative of the critical role Danny has played in achieving this merger of equals, and his tireless work in bringing the two organisations together. He hands over to Rosanna with the bank exceptionally well placed to capture the many opportunities that lie ahead”.
Incoming CEO, Rosanna Argall thanked Danny for his leadership and for working harmoniously together to take the first steps in the integration of the two banks. Rosanna also noted that she was ‘looking forward to continuing to engage with our members, our staff and our various partners and stakeholders to ensure the success and sustainability of our organisation for the benefit of everyone well into the future.”
With the recent Queensland floods and Victorian bushfires, we stand prepared with Unity Bank's Community Support Package to assist you.
Deferred home loan repayment
Deferred loan repayment option available on qualifying existing and new Unity Bank home loans and home loan refinances1
Member support
Practical and tailored assistance to help you and your family get your finances back in shape
If you have been impacted by the Queensland floods and Victorian bushfires, we are ready to assist. Please give us a call on 1300 36 2000.
DisclaimerCredit eligibility criteria, terms and conditions, fees and charges apply. 1. Loan deferment option available at the discretion of the Bank and subject to approval. Interest accrues and is capitalised to the loan throughout the approved loan repayment deferral period. Unity Bank Limited ABN 72 087 650 637 | AFSL & Australian Credit Licence 238311
Following the recent terrorist attack at Bondi Beach, there is an increased risk of scam and financial crime activity. Scammers are known to exploit major public events by impersonating trusted organisations, creating fake donation appeals, or pressuring people into making urgent payments.
This article outlines common scam types, safe payment practices, and practical tips to help you stay protected.
Common scams to be aware of
After major incidents, scam activity often increases. Watch out for:
Fake charities and donation requests: Scammers may impersonate legitimate charities or emergency relief funds, requesting donations via text messages, emails, social media posts, or fake websites.
Fake government or compensation messages: You may receive contact from someone claiming to represent a government agency or authority, offering compensation, refunds, or financial support. These messages often ask for personal details or immediate payment.
Urgent or emotionally charged payment requests: Scammers frequently use urgency to pressure people into acting quickly without verifying the request.
Use secure payment methods
Before making a payment or donation, consider whether the payment method being requested is appropriate for the situation. Legitimate organisations do not require urgent or unusual payment methods.
Scammers often request payment methods that are hard to recover, including PayID or real-time bank transfers, international transfers, cryptocurrency, or gift cards.
Stick to trusted and secure payment methods, which often have built-in buyer protection and fraud prevention features to help safeguard your purchases.
If you are being pressured to pay quickly or in a specific way, stop and verify the request before proceeding.
How to protect yourself
Here are 4 practical tips to help you stay protected:
Verify the organisation or recipient using official websites or trusted contact details.
Do not click links in unsolicited emails, text messages, or social media posts.
Donate only through official charity channels.
Take time to check the request. Scammers often use urgency to pressure people into paying.
Need help?
If you believe someone has gained access to your bank account and/or personal information, even if the scam appears unrelated to your finances, you should contact your bank immediately. A timely response can be critical.
If you have concerns about your account contact us immediately.
You can report cybercrime directly to the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) or National Anti-Scam Centre (NASC) – Scamwatch.
Find out how scams work, how to protect yourself, what to do if you’ve been scammed or report a scam to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) via Scamwatch.
Change your passwords and enable two-factor authentication to protect your accounts.
As always, we remain committed to your security and privacy online. To understand how we help to keep you safe, please refer to our Security page. For more information on common scams and how to protect yourself, please visit the News section of our website.
With Boxing Day and other seasonal sales just around the corner, online shopping is set to surge, and unfortunately, so is the risk of scams. As the holiday sales approach, the Customer Owned Banking Association (COBA) is urging consumers to remain vigilant.
“Scammers often use tactics like creating a sense of urgency to get customers to make immediate decisions and payments. Knowing that pressured shoppers are less likely to spot a scam, criminals deliberately target events like Boxing Day sales,” COBA Head of Financial Crimes and Cyber Resilience Martin Latimer explained.
According to ACCC’s Scamwatch, there have been more than $8 million in reported losses from shopping scams in 2025 so far.
To help savvy shoppers stay safe, COBA’s financial crimes team share their expert tips on how to spot, and avoid, such scams.
Beware of fake websites
Scammers often create ‘phantom’ websites that are designed to trick even the savviest shopper.
Latimer urges Australians to be extra cautious when browsing online deals, and to double-check the legitimacy of a website before you decide to make any payments.
Look out for poor website design and spelling or grammatical errors, as well as a lack of customer feedback or reviews for the seller or product.
“Scammers are experts at creating convincing fake websites that closely resemble legitimate retailers. Pay close attention to the domain name, because even a small typo could mean you're on a scam site,” Latimer advised.
Shoppers are urged to verify the site's legitimacy by looking out for a privacy policy, terms and condition, or even contact details - many fake websites don’t include this level of information.
If you are shopping on an Australian website, you can use the Australian Domain Authority’s website register to see which company or trademark registered it.
Don’t click on unsolicited links
Phishing is a tactic criminals use to steal your personal and financial information, such as login credentials or credit card details.
Scammers often send unsolicited emails or messages pretending to be legitimate retailers, delivery companies or payment processors, in an attempt to trick shoppers to click on links or download suspicious attachments.
“A common phishing tactic is a scammer sending an email or text message about a sale or delivery, urging you to click on a link. These links then lead to fake websites or download malware onto your device,” Latimer explained.
“Never open attachments from unknown senders, as they may contain malware. Instead, always go directly to the retailer’s official website.”
Use secure payment methods
Before making any online purchases, make sure your payment is protected. Check that the website shows “https” and a padlock icon to safeguard your financial information.
Latimer added: “Scammers will often encourage you to use untraceable payment methods, like wire transfers or cryptocurrency, so avoid these. Stick to trusted and secure payment methods, which often have built-in buyer protection and fraud prevention features to help safeguard your purchases.”
Trust your instincts. If something appears suspicious or too good to be true, it probably is.
Need help?
If you believe someone has gained access to your bank account and/or personal information, even if the scam appears unrelated to your finances, you should contact your bank immediately. A timely response can be critical.
If you have concerns about your account contact us immediately.
You can report cybercrime directly to the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) or National Anti-Scam Centre (NASC) – Scamwatch.
Find out how scams work, how to protect yourself, what to do if you’ve been scammed or report a scam to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) via Scamwatch.
Change your passwords and enable two-factor authentication to protect your accounts.
As always, we remain committed to your security and privacy online. To understand how we help to keep you safe, please refer to our Security page. For more information on common scams and how to protect yourself, please visit the News section of our website.
From 10 December 2025, some social media platforms will be restricted, by law, to people aged 16 and over. These laws require affected platforms to take reasonable steps to prevent anyone under 16 from creating or holding accounts.
These measures are designed to protect young people from the risks and pressures associated with social media use. Information about the new restrictions is available at eSafety’s social media age restrictions hub.
There are 4 potential scams that opportunistic criminals may use to take advantage of these changes.
Who’s at risk
Young people and their families affected by the new social media age restrictions
Social media users
What the scams might look like
Platform impersonation scamsScammers may pretend to be social media platforms or age verification providers, and ask you to verify your age or risk losing your account.
Government impersonation scamsScammers may pretend to be from government or law enforcement, claiming you have breached the new laws and threaten fines unless you provide proof of age.
Fake ID scamsScammers may offer fake IDs or access to age-verified accounts for a fee, targeting young people under 16 and their families.
‘Hi Mum’ scamsScammers might impersonate young people aged 16 or older, contacting their parents or guardians to claim they need help verifying their age to use a social media platform.
If someone contacts you about the social media age restrictions
STOP. Don’t be rushed to share age verification details quickly. Don’t make any payments. No legitimate platforms are requesting payment associated with these laws.
CHECK. Make sure the person or organisation you’re dealing with is real. Find out how your social media platforms are communicating with users about the restrictions and how they are verifying users’ ages. You can visit eSafety's frequently asked questions page for more information.
PROTECT. If you’ve given any personal information, such as your age or proof of identity, or money to someone you suspect is a scammer act quickly. The What to do if you’ve been scammed page on scamwatch.gov.au has steps you can follow.
Need help?
If you believe someone has gained access to your bank account and/or personal information, even if the scam appears unrelated to your finances, you should contact your bank immediately. A timely response can be critical.
If you have concerns about your account contact us immediately.
You can report cybercrime directly to the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC).
Find out how scams work, how to protect yourself, what to do if you’ve been scammed or report a scam to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) via Scamwatch.
Change your passwords and enable two-factor authentication to protect your accounts.
As always, we remain committed to your security and privacy online. To understand how we help to keep you safe, please refer to our Security page. For more information on common scams and how to protect yourself, please visit the News section of our website.
Every year on 30 November, International Computer Security Day highlights the importance of protecting personal and organisational information in an increasingly digital world. First acknowledged in 1988, the day is now recognised globally by schools, businesses, and communities of all kinds.
As our reliance on technology grows, so does our exposure to cyber risks. Personal data, financial details, and business information can all be exploited if not properly secured. International Computer Security Day encourages individuals, organisations, and governments to reflect on their online habits and strengthen their digital defences.
Over the past five decades, computers and digital devices have become essential to daily life, from work and study to banking and shopping. This dependence highlights the need for strong security practices and awareness.
Cybercriminals continue to exploit vulnerabilities through identity theft, fraud, ransomware, and malicious software. Taking early, preventive measures is crucial to protecting both personal and business data.
International Computer Security Day serves as a timely reminder to assess your digital security and put effective safeguards in place. Below are practical actions you can take to enhance your online safety:
Use a unique and strong passphrase on every account:
A passphrase is a more secure version of a password.
Passphrases are hard for cybercriminals to crack, but easy for you to remember.
Create passphrases that are:
15 or more characters
Unpredictable: use 4 or more random words. Avoid identifying information such as family names, birth dates or addresses.
Unique: are different for every account.
Learn more about how to set secure passphrases at cyber.gov.au
Always set up multi-factor authentication (MFA):
Enable multi-factor authentication where available to add an extra layer of security to all of your online accounts.
MFA requires two or more proofs of identity to log in to your account
MFA adds an extra layer of security
Start with setting up MFA on your most important accounts (such as online banking and email accounts)
Learn more about how to turn on multi-factor authentication at cyber.gov.au
Install all software updates to keep your devices secure:
Installing regular updates will keep your devices secure and makes it harder for cyber criminals to access them.
Make sure that automatic updates are switched on so that you are notified when an update is available.
Learn more about how to update your devices at cyber.gov.au
Be cautious of phishing attempts
Always verify unexpected text messages, emails, links, and attachments before opening them.
Check the sender’s details carefully and confirm the email address or phone number is legitimate.
Hover over links to inspect the URL, and if in doubt, open a new browser window and navigate to the website manually rather than clicking the link.
Look for spelling errors, urgent language, unusual requests, or unfamiliar sender details.
Never provide personal or financial information in response to unsolicited messages.
Back up your data
Regularly back up important files to a secure location to prevent data loss.
Use offline backups (such as an external hard drive) or encrypted cloud storage for added security.
Ensure your backups are protected with strong passwords or encryption.
Test your backups periodically to confirm they can be restored if needed.
This International Computer Security Day, consider taking time to assess your digital habits. Updating passwords, reviewing privacy settings, installing security updates, or educating those around you about safe online behaviour are all meaningful steps toward better protection. Every proactive action contributes to a more secure digital landscape.
This day is a prompt to prioritise cybersecurity in our daily lives, ensuring that our personal, professional, and organisational information remains safe in an increasingly digital world.
Need help?If you believe someone has gained access to your bank account and/or personal information, even if the scam appears unrelated to your finances, you should contact your bank immediately. A timely response can be critical.
If you have concerns about your account mmediately.
You can report cybercrime directly to the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC).
Find out how scams work, how to protect yourself, what to do if you’ve been scammed or report a scam to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) via Scamwatch.
As always, we remain committed to your security and privacy online. To understand how we help to keep you safe, please refer to our Security page. For information on common scams and how to protect yourself, please visit the News section of our website.
