The magic moment when Rita and Jo let people know their goals are in reach

Despite the impressive numbers and decades of experience, their eyes light up when they talk about the favourite part of their jobs. 

“For me the best part is giving people a call to tell them they’ve been approved,” Rita says. “Sometimes a lot goes into the process and over that time you see how much it means to people. 

“So, I love sharing that news.” 

When Tasmanian-grown, customer-owned B&E became Bank of us in 2017, it made a promise to ‘put people at the heart of banking’. 

“Rita would be the same I reckon,” Joanne says. “I’m on my third generation now, supporting loans for the grandchildren of some of my original customers.” 

“There is a lot of trust and care involved in the job. I know you’re not, but you do almost feel like part of the family.” 

Bank of us lending specialists work with people from their first contact with the bank. 

They help identity the right loan, how much people can afford to borrow, navigating approval and staying on the case through to settlement. They are also there to help people through unexpected rough patches. 

“You do a lot of explaining from beginning to end,” Rita says. “A lot of the job is ringing and updating, and letting people know where things are at.” 

“A lot of people are walking in for the first time and it’s the biggest life decision they have ever made.” 

“It’s a really rewarding part of the job getting people into a home, especially if it is their first home.” 

Sitting together, the warm regard Rita and Joanne have for each other is on full display, as is their passion for their customers, the job and their community. 

Rita works on the Devonport end of the Coast, while Joanne looks after Burnie and Wynyard. 

Being part of the community is important to both of them. 

“We’re here because this is where we live,” Rita laughs. “We love being able to tell people we are a Tasmanian customer-owned bank – it’s awesome.” 

For Jo, her days with the bank started before she was on the payroll. 

“My husband and myself had our first home loan with what was Bass and Equitable back in the day,” she says, breaking into a broad smile at the memory. 

“It was probably eight or nine years after that I started working with Bank of us. 

“I’ve been with the organisation ever since our first home loan, ever since I was 20.” 

It’s a hard to put a number on it, but the Bank’s best guess is that Joanne and Rita have been responsible for getting 3000 loans approved for customers across their careers with Bank of us.