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Australians love investing in property and it’s easy to understand why. Property investment may offer both steady returns and tax benefits in the right conditions, without facing the same level of volatility as some other asset classes. If becoming a property investor appeals to you, there are a number of things to consider, including where to buy, what costs you’ll face, what your goals are and what sort of returns you’re seeking (capital growth vs. rental yield). Once you’ve answered those questions, there are several steps to take to secure your investment. Assess how much you can borrow To determine how much you can borrow, our lenders will look at your income, your deposit, your financial obligations, how much you spend and your credit report. Use our Borrowing Power Calculator to give you an idea of how much you may be able to borrow. It’s worth getting some guidance though – from one of our lenders or a financial adviser – to ensure the numbers are correct. Look into initial and ongoing costs While property investment may have tax benefits, there are also upfront and ongoing costs to consider. It’s important to factor in these costs to establish how much you’ll need to borrow or set aside. These include: Stamp duty Lenders Mortgage Insurance – To protect the lender, if you have a deposit of less than 20 per cent Legal fees Pest and building reports Land tax Strata fees Ongoing property maintenance costs Agency costs, if you plan to rent out the property Apply for loan pre-approval Once you’ve established how much you can safely borrow, you can seek pre-approval to finance your loan. Pre-approval means we have agreed – in principle – to lend you a certain amount of money to fund your investment purchase.  Find the right property for you Buyers often have an idea of what they’re looking for before they begin the search process, but once you know how much you can borrow, it can narrow the scope and help you search with more confidence. Everyone has their own criteria for what they’re seeking in an investment property, but buyers often look for low suburb vacancy rates, proximity to transport, schools and dining options, and strong suburb capital growth. Get the reports When you start getting serious about a property, it’s important to make sure there are no hidden flaws, such as pests or building defects. Obtaining reports from reputable inspectors – and getting a valuation of the property – can answer these questions and give you the information and peace of mind you’ll want before you make an offer. Make an offer If everything looks alright, you can proceed to making an offer to the agent. If your offer is accepted, it’s time to go back to our team to get the final loan approval. Settle on the property Our team will perform a valuation of the property. Then, before the property becomes your own, you usually have to engage lawyers or conveyancers to go through the contract and ensure everything lines up. Generally, they will negotiate a settlement period – which is the time during which your deposit and the loan funds are released to the seller in exchange for the Certificate of Sale, and the sale is finalised. After settlement, the property is handed from the seller to you. From that day, you’re a property investor. Read our Buying your home guide, it sets out home buying in three phases and defines key terms to eliminate confusing jargon.

A friendly reminder that all our Service Centres & Contact Centre will be closed on Good Friday 18th April & Easter Monday 21st April. Balances and transactions on your account are available through our website via Online Banking, and by downloading our Mobile App. (Please ensure you are registered for these services). We hope everyone has a wonderful Easter and long weekend.

Unity Bank had the opportunity to attend the MEU AGM from the 3rd to the 4th of April 2025. It was an extremely successful event with a variety of different organisations attending and representing their core business products and services.  Unity Bank conducted a random prize draw, with two prizes to be won.  Congratulations to our winners Brendan and Mitchell, who attended the conference and entered our competition! Brendan won a $300 BCF gift card and Mitchell won a $100 EFTPOS gift card! We hope you enjoy your prizes!! We would also like to thank everyone who attended the event and visited our Unity Bank stall.

Unity Bank had the opportunity to attend the ETU National Conference from the 31st of March to the 1st of April 2025. It was an extremely successful event with a variety of different organisations attending and representing their core business products and services.  Unity Bank conducted a random prize draw, with two prizes to be won.  Congratulations to our winner Matthew, who attended the conference and entered our competition! Matthew won a $500 EFTPOS gift card! We hope you enjoy your prize!! We would also like to thank everyone who attended the event and visited our Unity Bank stall.

With communities across Northern NSW and South-East Queensland impacted by Tropical Cyclone Alfred, 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 Tropical Cyclone Alfred, 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. G&C Mutual Bank Limited trading as Unity Bank & Reliance Bank ABN 72 087 650 637 | AFSL & Australian Credit Licence 238311

Today marks an important milestone as the merger-of-equals between G&C Mutual Bank and Unity Bank takes effect, with the legal merge and banking system integration taking place on 7 March 2025. This follows the earlier regulatory approval and overwhelmingly positive member vote and is the culmination of over 18 months of planning and collaboration by staff across both organisations. Unity Bank CEO Danny Pavisic and G&C Mutual Bank CEO Rosanna Argall noted that the successful completion of the merger helps secure a strong future as one of Australia’s leading mutually owned banks. "Both organisations have always prioritised the needs of our members and the communities we serve, and this merger creates an even stronger platform for us to fulfill that mission. As we move forward together, we are excited to offer even greater benefits to our members and continue our legacy of trust, service, and community engagement.” Member benefits of the merger include access to an expanded branch network, continuity of access to exceptional staff and face-to-face service, improved product range with fewer and lower fees, increased ability for technological investment, scale efficiencies and a continued commitment to member first principles of mutuality. At a combined $3.8b in assets, the merger provides even greater opportunity to continue the strong growth of the organisations, with both having tracked well above system growth in recent years. The merged entity will be G&C Mutual Bank Limited immediately following the merger, changing to Unity Bank Limited from 1 July 2025. The G&C Mutual Bank, Unity Bank and Reliance Bank brands will be retained and consolidated into a single Unity Bank brand over the next 12 months.