The first anniversary of Auswide Bank's name change from Wide Bay Australia coincides with the institution's fiftieth year of operation.Auswide's progress over the years exemplifies the changes in Australia's regional banking industry. Its origins go back to Burnett Permanent Building Society, which was registered in April 1966 and opened for business in Bundaberg later that year.In 1979 Burnett Permanent merged with Maryborough Permanent Building Society to form Wide Bay Capricorn Building Society. Wide Bay merged with Gympie and North Coast Building Society in 1981 and Gladstone-based Port Curtis Building Society in 1983.Wide Bay Capricorn became Wide Bay Australia in 2003 and in 2008 merged with Mackay Permanent Building Society.The Auswide Bank brand was launched on April 1 last year. The bank has A$3 billion of assets and is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange.