Re-branding taxes Beyond profit
Profits tumbled for Beyond Bank Australia in the year to June 2013, falling 18 per cent to A$23.2 million.Formerly Community CPS, the Adelaide-based credit union re-branded as a mutual bank in August.Other financial indicators were a little lethargic, with member deposits up 3.3 per cent, though asset growth was closer to system at five per cent. Beyond has $3.8 billion in assets.New lending, at $640 million, was down on 2012.Beyond said its cost to income ratio "rose slightly to 70 per cent on the back of significant strategic investments", of which the re-brand was the main one.The credit union used to trade under five brands, reflecting past mergers in New South Wales, the ACT, Western Australia and, most recently, in country South Australia (a merger with Whyalla-based credit union Alliance One.)