1970's

Onsite and on the Money

Workplace Credit Co-Operatives gained popularity in the 70's with many large scale employers recognising the importance of convenient banking services for employees. Like many others the BHP Employee's Credit Co-Operative (BHP ECC) was initially manned by internal volunteers but grew quickly to support full time staff and become self sustaining. Three of Big Sky's other predecessor organisations: the BP Employee Credit Co-Operative (BP ECC), the Lysaght Employee's Credit Co-Operative and the RACV Credit Union (RACV CU) also started at this time.

1971 The Birth of a Credit Union.

David Gray, founder of the BHP ECC with Sir Ian McLennan, Chairman of BHP, witnessing the first membership.

1975 New Investment Deposit Account.

Introduced to ease continual pressure on the Co-Operative for loan monies.

BP ECC staff gathering circa. 1976.

Note the early industry Positioning 'People Helping People'.

Strategic Planning. Pre-whiteboard SWOT analysis highlights 'Co-Operative model' and 'good staff' as organisational strengths.

1980's

Growing Up Fast

A decade of large and repeated swings in economic conditions, but one of strong growth for the Credit Union as it embarked upon a period of significant change and one of renewed professionalism. Members benefit from the introduction of secured lending, cheque accounts and 'plastics'.

'I'm a winner – I joined a Credit Union'… so says the sticker affixed to the front counter.

Members of BHP CU had 63 cents of every $1 of income returned to them in the form of interest paid on deposits.

Improved Access for Members.

Bill paying over the phone one of many new services providing members with greater access.

Deregulation, Redicards and New Markets. The 1986 Annual Report highlights the increased competition caused by the finance sector's deregulation, trumpets the introduction of Redicard and welcomes new members from Utah mines.

1990's

More Members and Services

The exponential changes brought about by ATMs and EFTPOS commence and whilst banks close branches, Credit Unions continue to grow. The Credit Union passed the $100m mark in total assets during the decade, welcomes Lysaght Employees Credit Co-Operative's 2300 members into the fold and launched a 1800 toll free number.

94% Satisfaction Rating from Members.

Members officially express their satisfaction with the Credit Union's great service, prudent investing and lending practices and competitive rates.

Visa Access Card.

In a sign of things to come Credit Unions in Australia collaborated to benefit members by producing their own Credit Union Credit Card.

70% Membership & 80 Sites.

In 1996 70% of BHP employees are members of the Credit Union and services are provided at 80 sites across Australia.

This year services were made available to employees of BHP Titanium (Beenup Project) in Western Australia and BHP Petroleum in Perth. BP CU at the time had representation in Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Newcastle, Melbourne and several other regional terminals.

2000's

Leaving Home

The decade the Credit Union became an individual in it's own right, leaving it's parent BHP to become Big Sky. This highly memorable and busy decade featured mergers with BP, RACV & GMH Credit Unions as well as the Y2K bug and GST.

Beyond BHP.

In 2002, after 31 years with the same name and identity, work commenced on a new brand 'to bring it in line with what BHP Credit Union has grown to be and to take the Credit Union into the future'.

A New Name and New Merger.

2003 saw the Big Sky brand launched officially and the BP Credit Union integrate into Big Sky.

90% of Members Transact for Free and 100% are Better Off.

Cannex's annual study reveals members now $189 p.a. better off with Big Sky than a bank and Personal Investor Magazine awards us Car Loan of the Year.

Branching Out.

2006 saw Big Sky welcome members from RACV CU and open a full time Service Centre in Roxby Downs (SA). Hedland, Newman (WA) and Moranbah (QLD) follow suit.

Adding Advice.

Big Sky Financial Solutions is established and a Perth based financial advisory firm is acquired to provide expertise to members about their financial future. GMH Employee's Credit Co-Operative merges into Big Sky. Subsequently MeritPlan, a Brisbane based boutique advisory firm, was acquired in 2011.

Popular with Employers.

Support from large employers continues to grow with many companies joining the likes of BHP Billiton, Holden, BlueScope, RACV, CapGemini, BP Australia, Elite Solutions, OneSteel and Hatch Assoc.

Trusted Financial Partner.

In 2011 Big Sky celebrated the 40th anniversary of it's founding entity's creation. Of the 31,000+ members, the trusting relationship between a member named Alan Lees and his Credit Union exemplifies the Big Sky story (refer Member story section below).