By Guy Hazlewood

For more than 22 years, Bank of Queensland (BOQ) Forest Lake has stood out as a leader in community-centred banking, prioritising a personal connection with customers and the broader Forest Lake community.

The owner-manager team, which consists of father- son duo David and Simon Armstrong along with Brett Holland, bring over 60 years of combined experience to the branch.

David Armstrong, Simon Armstrong and Brett Holland from BOQ Forest Lake. Source: BOQ Forest Lake

Since opening its doors in 2001, BOQ Forest Lake has been committed to delivering traditional banking experiences tailored to the community in Forest Lake and surrounding suburbs.

The branch relocated in 2021 from a modest 60 square metre space in the Forest Lake Shopping Centre to a 140 square metre site to accommodate its growing customer base. Over the past 23 years, the branch has expanded from a small team of three to a robust staff of 12 dedicated professionals.

David Armstrong, who purchased BOQ Forest Lake as an owner-managed branch recalls those early days.

“Simon came on board some 18 months after I started,” he said.

“He was at QUT part-time, studying and working in the branch to earn money whilst completing his degree. Fast forward 23 years, and now Simon is a partner in the business.”

Approximately 110 of the 150 BOQ branches in Australia are owner-managed. 

Today the success of BOQ Forest Lake is reflected in its ranking as one of the top three BOQ branches in Australia. This unique model allows the branch to operate as a small business, fostering a closer connection with both the local community and local business owners.

“We are open on Saturday mornings between 9:00am and 12:00 noon which is unique in banking. This commitment to accessibility and community involvement has been one of the keys to our success,” David said. 

The branch is an integral part of the community through it’s sponsorship of  schools, non-profit organisations, and community events, including the ever-popular Easter Extravaganza. 

“Our involvement in the community is not just about providing financial support but being present and engaging with the people who support us,” David said.

The branch’s friendly, personalised service has earned it a loyal customer base.

“We have customers who have been with us since we opened 23 years ago and we’ve seen young children grow into families as well as grandparents opening accounts for their grandchildren,” David said.

One of the unique services BOQ Forest Lake offers is having not one but two Justices of the Peace.

“We as JP’s will happily certify documents for anyone in the community, something no other bank offers,” David said.

Brett Holland, who recently joined the team as a partner, continues the tradition of fostering a welcoming and supportive environment.

As BOQ Forest Lake looks to the future, the branch remains committed to its core values of community involvement and personalised service.

“We’ve always promoted a community spirit, and it has paid dividends,” David said.

“These values which we have fine-tuned over the past 23 years are now being integrated into BOQ Indooroopilly and BOQ Greater Springfield, both of which are owned by BOQ Forest Lake.

“People come to us because they feel valued and appreciated, because we don’t treat them as a number.”