Bank celebrates 20 years & $12 million milestone

Branch Manager Sophia Di Ferdinando, Marty Hunt MP, and Board Directors Malcolm Brown and Audrey Lyttle cutting the cake at the 20th birthday celebration.

Heritage Palmwoods Community Branch has celebrated a huge milestone, achieving 20 years of service and support for the people of Palmwoods and the wider Sunshine Coast.

Over the past two decades the branch has not only helped locals with all their banking needs, it has also proudly given back more than $12 million to the Palmwoods community – a huge sum which has provided crucial financial support to community groups and local events.

Current and former staff, long-time customers, and community members gathered at the branch to mark the milestone and recognise the enormous breadth of the support provided to the community since the branch first opened its doors in 2006.

Last year alone the branch provided around $178,000 to 28 Sunshine Coast community groups at its annual sponsorship evening.

These included schools and kindergartens, sporting clubs, art, environmental and museum groups as well as organisations supporting mental health.

The branch has also helped improve the physical fabric of the community. For example, by contributing $100,000 towards the vital shade structure at Palmwoods Skate Park and $75,000 towards the Boardwalk lining Palmwood’s Piccabeen Green town square, both in conjunction with the Sunshine Coast Council.

Heritage Palmwoods Community Branch is a joint-venture between Heritage Bank and the local community, represented by Palmwoods Community Branch Ltd (PCB Ltd), which distributes its share of the profits back to the community in the form of Community Sponsorships.

Mrs Audrey Lyttle has been on the PCB board for more than 10 years.

“The branch has succeeded beyond all of our initial expectations,” Ms Lyttle said proudly. “This anniversary makes you think about all the good it’s done for the Palmwoods community over the years. It’s hard to put into words.

“It’s been an absolute pleasure and delight to be involved with this project over the past decade - long may the branch exist and flourish!” 

Heritage Bank Palmwoods Community Branch Manager Sophia Di Ferdinando has been at the branch for 18 of its 20 years.

“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. For all of us in the Palmwoods team, it’s very rewarding to be a part of such a wonderful community-focused organisation. We regularly get letters from schools and community groups saying what a difference we’ve been able to make, which makes it all worthwhile.

“But it really is a mutual relationship. The community supports the branch and the branch supports the community.  We’re all about helping people and developing our wonderful region.”

Applications for the 2026 Heritage Palmwoods Community Branch Sponsorships are open until April 3rd. For more information contact the branch on 5294 0600.