Blog
Reminder: Important Changes to the Christmas Club Account
17 February 2020
Christmas savings accounts are designed to help you save money for your holiday shopping, without having to use your everyday money or your available credit.
As advised in August 2019 via the Special Edition of the Endeavour Newsletter, these changes to the Christmas Club savings account have come into effect on 1st October 2019:
- Withdrawals will only be made available from 1 November to 31 January each year
- Interest is calculated on a daily balance and paid annually on 30 November
Locking down the account outside of the Christmas period is a measure designed to create a safe space that's dedicated to saving money just for the holiday season. For any other purposes, we have a range of other more suitable general savings accounts.
Assisting with the transition
For this year only we've extended the allowed withdrawal period by one month which means you will still be able to withdraw money from your Christmas Club until the account enters the lockdown mode on 1st March 2020.
The features you know and love are staying the same
The Christmas Club account has no account keeping fees and the competitive 0.30% interest rate on your balance remains unchanged. You may receive real time payments into your Christmas Club account through NPP by Osko® and if you make regular deposits, you should have no trouble playing Santa when the time comes.
If you have any questions, please visit any of our branches, call us on 1300 13 14 20 or email info@endeavour.bank
Police investigate scam targeting elderly residents
13 February 2020
Detectives have released CCTV vision and are appealing for public information following reports of an elaborate phone and credit card fraud targeting elderly residents across Sydney.
Police have received reports from victims across Sydney including Castle Hill, Penshurst, Rushcutters Bay, Allawah and Sans Souci, who have been scammed of personal information and large quantities of money between December 2019 and January 2020.
Investigators have been told that initial contact is made through a phone call from someone speaking with a foreign accent.
The caller purports to be from a bank and advises that fraudulent transactions have been made on the victim’s credit cards.
The victim is then encouraged to provide their personal information on the phone, or to physically provide identification documents to a courier, who arrives at their home address shortly after.
In one incident, an 85-year-old woman from Penshurst, received a phone call from a woman with an Indian accent claiming to be from a bank about 2pm on Wednesday 18 December 2019.
The caller claimed the woman’s bank account had been accessed in South Africa and that $900 had been taken from her account.
To recover her funds, the caller requested the woman place her personal information details into an envelope and provide to a male courier who arrived at the home a short time later.
The incident was reported to officers from St George Police Area Command the following day, after more than $11,000 in fraudulent transactions had been made.
In a separate incident, an 86-year-old man from Castle Hill received a phone call on Friday 3 January 2020, from a woman purporting to be from a bank and told to provide his credit card information.
The incident was reported to officers from The Hills Police Area Command the following day, after nearly $5,000 in fraudulent transaction were made.
Failed attempts to transfer another $10,000 were also flagged and brought to the attention of police.
Initial inquiries suggest the incidents may be linked and as investigations continue, detectives have released CCTV images of two men they believe may be able to assist.
Both men are described as being of Indian Sub-Continental appearance, aged in their early to mid-20’s, with black hair and black facial hair.
One man is depicted in the images as wearing a blue t-shirt with a red pattern, blue jeans and black sneakers with white soles. He was also carrying a black backpack and wearing black headphones.
The second man is depicted in the images as wearing a black shirt with a pattern, a white backpack and a black cap.
Financial Crimes Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Linda Howlett, said the calls appear to be targeted, preying on the vulnerability of older Australians.
“The community should be wary of any requests for personal financial information or payments over the phone,” Det Supt Howlett said.
“As our detectives continue to investigate these incidents, we would encourage everyone to remain vigilant, and to share these warnings with their parents and grandparents who may not be aware of this scam.
“Fraud is theft by deception and often you won’t know it’s happened until it is too late.
“Do not be afraid to ask the right questions – what is the person’s name and what company do they represent. Your best defence against scams is to hang up the phone and report the incident,” Det Supt Howlett said.
The public are reminded to take the following precautions to reduce the risk of being scammed by cold-callers:
- If you receive a threatening phone call (and demanding money), hang up immediately;
- Do not disclose personal details to the caller;
- Never provide your personal or banking details to a person who calls you;
- Never provide your financial PIN or account passwords to anyone;
- Do not make any payments to the caller, either via phone, internet, or cash;
- If you are suspicious about the credentials of a person on the phone, ask questions of them. If they avoid answering or refuse to provide information, hang up;
- Don’t let scammers pressure you – scammers use detailed scripts to convince you that they’re the real deal and create a high-pressure situation to make a decision on the spot;
- If you think you have provided your account details to a scammer, contact your bank or financial institution immediately; and
- Contact police immediately to report the incident.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.
Assistance for members affected by bushfire
15 January 2020
Our thoughts are with all the communities impacted by the bushfire crisis
First Home Loan Deposit Scheme Announcement
12 December 2019
Helping first home buyers get into their first home sooner
Don't be a money mule
05 December 2019
Stay alert for job ads and social media posts that promise easy money
Gift for Kids
27 November 2019
The Barnardos Gifts for Kids Christmas Gift Appeal gives thousands of disadvantaged Australian children the opportunity to open a present on Christmas Day.
Norton Anti-Virus Issue
25 November 2019
Some Endeavour members are experiencing issues when accessing the Endeavour website. This issue is advising members that the website is potentially unsafe and has been linked to computers that have Norton
Donate to the bushfire appeal today
14 November 2019
All Australians are aware of the unprecedented bushfire conditions across the country, with homes destroyed, communities devastated, and tragically, lives lost.
BLOG: Is a Holiday Home a Good Investment?
08 November 2019
It’s already November and many of us are already planning our Summer holidays. Going abroad can be a wonderful way to holiday, but so too can staying closer to home and retreating somewhere without having to board a plane. Perhaps you’re even lucky enough to not need to book accommodation if you happen to own a weekender or holiday house.
BLOG: Be Water Wise and Reduce your Water Bill
01 November 2019
Australia is in the midst of drought, and its not even summer yet. To help conserve our water, level 1 water restrictions are now in place across Greater Sydney following an announcement by the NSW Government.
Notice of Change in Business Hours
30 October 2019
Please be advised that in order to keep our business hours consistent across our branches, from Monday 2nd December 2019 we will adjust the hours of operation at Merrylands, Revesby, Parramatta, Chullora and Hamilton branches as follows:
BLOG: Active and Creative Kids Vouchers - Money for Free
24 October 2019
We all know encouraging our kids to be active is a good thing. Its good for their bodies and brains, helps them digest their food and boost their immune system, it also produces endorphins (feel good hormones) so helps them to feel positive too.