Suncorp Group has so far received more than 2,600 claims relating to the catastrophic fires, worth up to $345 million, as the insurance giant continues to help affected people and communities get back on their feet.

Read more: Insurers can absorb Australian bushfire claims – S&P Global

“We fully recognise that these bushfires are particularly significant in terms of their duration, the geographic breadth of the fire zones, the sheer destruction of property, and the associated impacts on people’s lives, as well as local communities and economies,” said Steve Johnston, Suncorp Group CEO. “This recovery is going to take a long time – as one of Australia’s largest insurers we understand the role we need to play in that process.”

Read more: Australia's bushfires – the story on the ground

To help those affected by the horror bushfires, Suncorp has:

• deployed assessors, builders, client managers, and customer support teams to fire-hit towns in NSW, Victoria, South Australia, and Queensland;
• assigned a dedicated client manager to affected homeowners to make the claims process as smooth as possible;
• provided affected customers access to temporary accommodation, emergency funds, and financial assistance;
• offered a financial relief package for Suncorp Bank customers; and
• prioritised local trades to assist with the rebuild.

Suncorp will also deploy its team to the severely affected towns of Ulladulla and Batemans Bay in NSW and Bairnsdale in Victoria this weekend. Teams will also be sent to the South Coast of NSW and East Gippsland region in Victoria when it is safe.

Suncorp also upped its donation to the bushfire relief effort to $500,000 and continues to double match employee donations with more than $90,000 contributed to bushfire relief agencies to date.