CBA customers raise $5.8 million for drought-stricken farmers

Commonwealth Bank customers have rallied in support of Aussie farmers struggling through one of the worst droughts in centuries by raising over $5.8 million for an Australian Red Cross relief appeal.

The “overwhelmingly generous” response from customers was facilitated through CANgive – a new fundraising tool on the Commonwealth Bank (CBA) app – which allows users to donate digitally to via their mobile phone and tablet. In over a week, digital donations had reached $3.46 million, at an average of over $30 per customer.

The Australian Red Cross has advised CBA it will first donate the money as grants through the Country Women’s Associations of New South Wales and Queensland.

CBA branches have also been paramount in the fundraising efforts, with a further $2.34 million coming through the branch networks. This was led by the NSW and ACT regions, where ‘grassroot efforts’ started at the end of July.

$1.75 million was donated centrally by CBA, and a further $250,000 donated to Rural Aid’s “Buy a Bale” campaign. This has driven the total CBA-related donations to drought appeals to $7.8 million.

CBA Chief Executive, Matt Comyn, said the group has been “overwhelmed by the generosity of our customers and our people who are getting behind Aussie farmers, their families and communities affected by severe drought.”

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