Our History

BDCU Limited is a Mutual social enterprise entity focused on driving the economic and social growth of the Southern Highlands and Southern Tablelands of NSW. 

The organisation commenced in 1963 as the South Portland Cement Employees Credit Union. The Credit Union provided a savings and loan fund driven to support the financial and social needs of the local workers and families of the South Portland Cement Works in Berrima. As the credit union expanded to support the broader local community in 1978 the name was changed to the Berrima District Credit Union to reflect the wider membership base. In time these services spread to over 10,000 members across the Southern Highlands and Southern Tablelands. 

In 2015 BDCU relinquished its banking licence as part of a strategic restructure and ceased operations as a credit union, instead offering essential banking and financial services to our community through a franchised arrangement with Bendigo & Adelaide Bank called BDCU Alliance Bank.

In 2023 BDCU Limited ceased its contract with Bendigo & Adelaide Bank and instead commenced trading as BDCU The Collective Impact, a social enterprise organisation entirely committed to community impact and growth through the distribution of profits derived through BDCU’s direct investments, direct business operations, and distributions from its Subsidiary Company which continues to provide essential banking and financial services to our community through a Community Bank franchise with Bendigo & Adelaide Bank, which operates Community Bank branches in Bowral, Moss Vale and Goulburn.

BDCU Limited is a profit for purpose entity strategically focused on Accommodation, Employment and Health & Wellbeing, with a growing focus on retaining essential workers in our community as a mechanism to more broadly support a healthy, thriving community. 

BDCU Limited and the BDCU Group, is 100% community owned and does not distribute dividends to members.  All profits derived by BDCU Limited and the BDCU Group are directed towards enhancing the economic and social needs of the Southern Highlands and Southern Tablelands of NSW.

During the financial year ended 30 June 2024, the BDCU Group made payments of $325,106 towards Community Support and Philanthropy, in the form of donations, community grants and a provision for education and training scholarships.

In the 2025 financial year BDCU has undertaken a focus on projects that increase the capacity for our local essential worker to access more affordable accommodation, thereby improving the capacity to attract and retain these critical services in our community, and increasing the resilience and liveability of our regions.