Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) is no longer doing business with banking’s “Big Four,” following the move to bank with the membership-owned and locally-run Queensland Country Bank.

KAP leader and Member for Traeger, Robbie Katter, said the decision to ditch one of the Big Four in favour of the Queensland born-and-bred Country Bank was a “logical choice.”

“We want the people of Queensland to know that we are putting their money where our heart is,” Mr Katter said.

“They like to say banks made this country, but I can tell you for certain it was ‘country’ that made this bank.

“Queensland Country Bank’s first branch was right here in Mount Isa, next to where my office is. You can’t get more Queensland than that,” Mr Katter said.

Mr Katter said switching banks wasn’t just about appearances.

“It never sat right with us, banking with the Big 4,” Mr Katter said. “This way, we can put our money to work, helping Queenslanders access the capital they need to achieve home-ownership, expand their businesses, raise families and build communities.”

KAP had long called for the banking and financial services industries to be put under a microscope, well before the eventual 2018 Royal Commission. KAP put up the Banking Reform Bill in 2016, which was defeated by both major parties, and have been trying to get government to back a Rural Development Bank to create an even playing field for far north Queenslanders.

“Postcode discrimination is rife in the banking industry,” Mr Katter said. “There isn’t the willingness of banks to lend to viable businesses and projects in regional Queensland.

“A Rural Development Bank would light a fire under regional development and employment. What we don’t have is the private sector financial infrastructure to take advantage,” said Mr Katter.

Meanwhile, the Big 4 are pushing everyone online now, says Mr Katter, which is why he switched financial institutions years ago. “The majors don’t want to deal with you face to face any more.”

Mr Katter said the big banks are making super-profits, even during a pandemic, while closing branches in rural and regional areas.

“How can you claim you’re building communities when you don’t even want to be a part of one?” asked Mr Katter.

As for Queensland Country Bank as choice of financial institution for KAP, the fit couldn’t be more perfect. “Just like us, Country Bank has it headquarters in Townsville,” said Mr Katter. “And just like us, they have their ‘heartquarters’” in the bush.”