17-Jul-2023 • Personal Finance
Online bank ME will be the first bank in Australia to donate to multiple charities on behalf of its customers.
ME's new suite of charity-linked Visa debit cards – also available via a customer's smartphone digital wallet – will be launched today alongside ME's new digital app (ME Go) and bank accounts (SpendME, HomeME and SaveME), which can be opened in under five minutes.
ME debit card customers can choose to support one of five different charities relating to breast cancer research, support for mental health, threatened Australian species, LGBTQIA+ youth and homelessness.
ME will donate 1 cent to a customer’s charity of choice every time the customer taps with their digital wallet as part of the bank’s commitment to ‘making money good’, turning small change into big change.
Customer banking insights indicate that ME’s charity-aligned debit cards will prove popular. According to RFi Global, around three-quarters of Australian transaction account holders who are likely to switch banks believe that their bank should partner with charities and other community organisations, and regularly donate to charitable causes.
In addition to ME’s well-established and popular pink debit card linked to the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF), ME has introduced four new brightly-coloured charity-aligned debit cards:
- Blue: Beyond Blue to support the mental health of people in Australia.
- Green: Australian Wildlife Conservancy to support and provide hope to Australia’s wildlife.
- Rainbow: Minus18 to support LGBTQIA+ youth.
- Orange: Orange Sky to support people experiencing homelessness and hardship by providing clean laundry, showers and a space for connection and conversation.
ME's newly issued debit cards will be made from 82% recycled materials and feature braille for vision-impaired people.
“Building on ME’s popular pink card, we’ve carefully selected an additional four well-known and trusted Australian charities that are important to our customers and align to our values as an organisation,” said ME CEO, Martine Jager.
“By broadening the choices of our charities, we will help customers support a cause that they feel passionate about,” she said.
“We also understand that the cost of living remains at the forefront of household concerns, and so it’s important to flag that these donations do not cost customers anything. ME will pay it forward on behalf of the customer.
“By extending our charity line-up, we also hope to magnify the social impact we can create alongside our customer care and community support programs.”
The new charity-aligned debit cards can be added to customers’ digital wallets and housed in ME’s new digital banking app called 'ME Go’, which includes intuitive personal finance management tools and the option of three new innovative banking accounts:
- SpendME: a new transaction account including charity-linked digital wallets.
- Two new savings accounts: HomeME (a dedicated savings account for home buyers), and SaveME (a flexible, bonus interest savings account).
New digital app: ME Go1
The app includes personal finance management tools such as 'round ups' – which rolls up your daily transactions to the nearest dollar and sends loose change directly to your ME savings account.
You can also set and track savings goals and budgets and open up to nine savings accounts – so if you’re saving for Rome, a reno or just rainy days, you’ll know how much you’re spending on each category.
The app also includes a handy bill tracker – so you never miss a bill again – and supports instant payment technologies such as OSKO and PayID, and screen reading to assist vision-impaired customers.
New transaction account: SpendME
In addition to broadening its choice of charity-aligned cards, ME will introduce a new transaction account called ‘SpendME’. You will not be charged account keeping fees, foreign exchange or international ATM fees by ME2 – a win if you regularly purchase international goods or services or travel overseas.
New savings accounts: HomeME and SaveME
ME has also designed a tailored account called HomeME that will feature an attractive interest rate, dedicated tools and support to help home savers on their home buying journey.
The account does not charge monthly fees and will be eligible for bonus interest if customers deposit $2,000 into a linked SpendME transaction account from an external account each month and also grow the balance of their HomeME savings account each month (excluding interest).
“Given the time and effort it takes for first home buyers to accumulate their first home deposit, ME thought it was pertinent to give them as much support as possible to get on the property ladder,” added Jager.
Furthermore, ME has introduced a flexible everyday savings account, called SaveME. It has been designed as a low-hassle place to stash your savings, enabling you to save smarter.
Customers simply need to make four settled debit card transactions per month to receive bonus interest on their SaveME account (in other words, no minimum deposit limits). Plus, ME will allow you to operate up to nine savings accounts if you prefer to separate your savings into different goals. No account keeping fees will be charged.
You can download the new ME Go app in the Apple/Android app stores today.
Response from charities involved:
Australian Wildlife Conservancy Chief Executive Officer, Tim Allard said:
“By using ME’s green card, customers are helping AWC reach our mission to effectively conserve all Australian animals and the habitats in which they live. With your support, we can stem the loss of our wildlife and turn back the tide of extinctions.”
Beyond Blue spokesperson said:
“Donations from ME will go towards the Beyond Blue Support Service, so counsellors can provide immediate advice, support and referrals 24/7 at no cost to users. The service supports more than 300,000 people in Australia every year.”
Minus18 CEO, Micah Scott (he/they) said:
"Through ME's donations, Minus18 will continue to develop articles and content on our website for queer young people, teachers, allies and parents — with more than 1.1 million people accessing these resources every year.”
National Breast Cancer Foundation CEO & Associate Professor, Cleola Anderiesz said:
“ME has supported the National Breast Cancer Foundation for over 12 years and, in that time, has raised $2 million for the very best breast cancer research projects in Australia through ME’s pink debit card and other donations. One of these projects led by Associate Professor Kara Britt is investigating the role of immune cells at the early stage of tumour growth and determining whether targeting these cells can prevent the onset of breast cancer.”
Orange Sky CEO and Co-Founder, Lucas Patchett said:
“It's never been a more important time for our vans and volunteers to be out on the road providing our services to help lighten the load. A donation of $24 allows Orange Sky to provide someone doing it tough a load of clean laundry and a hot shower. ME Bank's support will allow Orange Sky to continue to provide our essential services to the ever-growing Aussies who need a helping hand.”
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Editor notes:
- Existing ME customers will migrate to the new app at a later stage. Existing customers may choose to open new accounts and transfer funds.
- ATM operators or merchants may charge a fee for their services.
- Terms, conditions, fees and charges apply. This is general information only and you should consider if these products are right for you.