It’s possible to argue that the genesis of The Mutual Bank occurred via an editorial of Maitland Mercury newspaper on 16th July 1863 which stated that “a good field for the operation of a building society is to be found in Maitland; the population of the town and district is of such a character as to furnish both investing shareholders and borrowers”. This probably led to the formation of The Hunter Building & Investment Society in August 1863 which was a terminating building society. Eventually, there came a desire to see capital created in the Hunter remain there in a multitude of land subdivisions and building projects. And so, the Maitland Permanent Building Investment and Loan Society was created and the Rules of the Society adopted on October 22, 1888.

Our collection of The Mutual Bank records includes 21st century annual reports, copies of the book Mutually Yours: the first 100 years of Maitland Mutual Building Society, marketing material and contemporary governance documents and reports published online.