To mark Lunar New Year and the Year of the Fire Horse, the CommBank Cabramatta team opened its doors to customers, business partners and neighbours, sharing red packets , festive treats and the kind of atmosphere that has become synonymous with the area.

But for the staff inside the branch, the celebrations are more than just a cultural moment on the calendar. They are a reflection of something deeper - the branch’s long-standing place in the community.

A branch built on familiarity

For Customer Service Representative My Van Huynh, that connection has been building for more than a decade.

“I’ve been here since 2011,” she said. “Customers love to come back and see me. I’m very happy.”

Working part-time while caring for her family, Ms Huynh says the relationships she’s formed are what make the role meaningful.

“They come here and they can speak their own language,” she said. “Vietnamese, Cantonese, English, we help them.”

From customer to community representative

Customer banking specialist Thu Thuy Bui knows that feeling well - she opened her first account at the Cabramatta branch when she was 16.

Years later, after running a café just around the corner, she now works inside the same branch and represents local businesses through the Chamber of Commerce.

For Ms Bui, the branch reflects Cabramatta itself - multicultural, busy and deeply connected.

“Everybody thinks it’s home here,” she said. “They can speak their own language, celebrate together and feel comfortable. People love to come back and see us.”

A celebration that belongs to the community

Branch manager Tim Gulli, who joined the Cabramatta team last year after 17 years with CommBank, said experiencing Lunar New Year in the area for the first time was “amazing”.

“There’s a huge community feel here,” he said. “The cultural diversity, the celebration - it’s different.”

The branch is one of the busiest in the country by transaction volume, he said, and serves a community where English is often a second language.

“Most of our customers speak English as a second language,” Mr Gulli said. “We need to be the bank that can support those needs.”

With multilingual staff, including one team member who speaks five languages, the branch plays a practical role as well as a cultural one.

Pride in place

For Ms Bui, who moved away from Cabramatta for a time before returning, working at the branch is personal.

“I’m proud to be in this community,” she said. “I want to represent everyone here.”

And for Ms Huynh, the impact can be simple but significant.

“When customers come in and can withdraw their money and feel happy, that’s important,” she said.

As Lunar New Year celebrations continue across Cabramatta, the branch remains what it has long been: a busy corner of community life, where culture, language and everyday banking intersect.