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The Australian Banking Association (ABA) is the information source for the news media on the Australian banking industry, providing information, analysis and context on industry issues.

The ABA plays an active role in the public dialogue on banking and financial services, providing commentary on broader industry issues and facilitating access to other sources of information.

For media inquiries contact [email protected] or 0475 741 007.


Media Releases
New awareness campaign crucial in ongoing fight against scammers
12 January 2025

The ABA welcomes the launch today of the Federal Government’s new scam awareness campaign, encouraging Australians to STOP. CHECK. PROTECT. ABA CEO Anna Bligh said this was a timely reminder for Australians to be on the look-out for the tell-tale signs that you might be being scammed. “Scams are a blight on our society. Every… Read more »

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Media Releases
AP+ update to debit cards with eftpos on mobile wallets
30 December 2024

Australian Payments Plus (AP+) has made good progress on its technical update to debit cards on mobile wallets. The update will ensure consumers can continue to make payments via eftpos from 1 Jan 2025. However, a small minority of consumers will need to remove and re-add their debit card to their mobile wallet. AP+ and… Read more »

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Media Releases
Update required to mobile wallets
23 December 2024

The Australian Banking Association (ABA) is informing customers about an important update that may affect some debit cards used in mobile wallets. Australian Payments Plus (AP+) is implementing a technical update to ensure that consumers can continue to make payments via eftpos from 1 January 2025. A small number of consumers who added their debit… Read more »

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Media Releases
Regulatory initiatives grid pilot a step in the right direction
19 December 2024

The Australian Banking Association welcomes the launch today of the Regulatory Initiatives Grid (RIG) pilot as an important step forward in improving transparency of the regulatory pipeline across key Government agencies and regulators.   ABA CEO Anna Bligh said better coordination of regulation would provide additional certainty for Australian banks.  “Banks recognise that effective regulation is… Read more »

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Media Releases
New RBA data shows rapid rise in digital payments
9 December 2024

New data released today from the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), shows Australians continue to embrace the ease of mobile wallets when making payments. For the first time, the RBA’s latest monthly retail payments data includes a snapshot of newer payment technology, showing more than 500 million payments were made via mobile wallets in October,… Read more »

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Media Releases
Parliamentary inquiry shines a light on financial abuse
5 December 2024

The Australian Banking Association acknowledges the release today of the inquiry report into the Financial Services Regulatory Framework in Relation to Financial Abuse. CEO Anna Bligh said the ABA and its member banks acknowledge the important work of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services to further shine a light on financial abuse…. Read more »

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Media Releases
SMS Sender ID Register welcome in ongoing war against scammers
3 December 2024

The ABA welcomes further progress by the Federal Government to establish a mandatory SMS Sender ID register with an enforceable industry standard, in what will be a critical preventative measure in the fight against scammers. ABA CEO Anna Bligh said thwarting SMS impersonation scams would disrupt a key tactic that scammers use to steal money… Read more »

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Media Releases
Don’t get more than you bargained for this Black Friday
27 November 2024

Shoppers on the hunt for a bargain during the Black Friday sales period are being warned to be on high alert for scams. The Australian Banking Association is reminding shoppers to be on the lookout for popular scams that are circulating: ABA CEO Anna Bligh said scam activity always surges during the Black Friday sales… Read more »

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Media Releases
Banks back Aussie farmers with record lending
15 November 2024

Australian banks continue to back growth and innovation across the farming sector with agribusiness lending now at record levels, exceeding $131 billion for the first time. The Australian Banking Association is highlighting the banking sector’s ongoing support for Aussie farmers this National Agriculture Day. Lending to agribusinesses has skyrocketed over the last year, rising 9.4 per cent in… Read more »

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Media Releases
New scams prevention framework key to winning war against scammers 
7 November 2024

The ABA welcomes the introduction into the Parliament of critical scam fighting legislation to better protect Australians.   ABA CEO Anna Bligh said the Federal Government’s proposed Scams Prevention Framework is the best way forward to prevent, detect, report, disrupt and respond to scams.   “This is an important step forward in our ongoing work to scam-proof… Read more »

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Media Releases
Banks stand ready to support Far West NSW communities impacted by recent storms 
1 November 2024

Banks stand ready to support Far West NSW communities hit by recent storms and ongoing power outages.   ABA CEO Anna Bligh acknowledged that many households and businesses in the Far West were still feeling the effect of this severe weather event.   “My message to customers in these communities, is please reach out to your bank… Read more »

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Media Releases
Keeping banking customers safe from financial abuse
1 November 2024

Customer safety will be front and centre when banks design their products and services under a new global leading initiative launched today by the Australian Banking Association, in partnership with Westpac. The new Safety by Design toolkit, developed by Westpac and made accessible to the sector, will give banks access to more guidance to ensure… Read more »

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Media Releases
Banks welcome extension of Responsible Lending Obligation exemption for small businesses
1 October 2024

The ABA welcomes the Federal Government’s announcement to extend the Responsible Lending Obligations (RLO) exemption for small businesses. ABA Acting CEO Vanessa Beggs said it was critical banks were able to provide small businesses with the finances they need to operate and expand. “One in four SMEs report wanting to increase their capital investment, so… Read more »

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Media Releases
New Deputy Chair appointed to ABA Council
18 September 2024

Today the Australian Banking Association Council has appointed Melanie Evans, CEO of ING Australia, as its new Deputy Chair.   The Council thanked the outgoing Deputy Chair, Marnie Baker, for her outstanding leadership during her tenure as Deputy Chair since 2019 and throughout her 35 years in the banking industry.   Ms Evans said she was honoured… Read more »

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Media Releases
Mandatory industry scams codes important part of winning war against scammers
13 September 2024

Banks welcome the release of draft legislation to establish a new Scam Prevention Framework to better protect consumers and drive scammers out of Australia. ABA CEO Anna Bligh said winning the war against scammers will only be possible through a collective effort across the entire scams chain, including from government, banks, telcos and social media… Read more »

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Media Releases
Supporting small business to repay debt
2 September 2024

The Australian Banking Association (ABA) has collaborated with Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ), CPA Australia (CPA), and the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) to create a support-based factsheet for small business customers who might be struggling to make repayments. Many things can cause a business owner to have difficulties repaying their debts and it’s… Read more »

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Media Releases
Banks remind customers to remain vigilant to threat of scammers this Scams Awareness Week
26 August 2024

The ABA is reminding customers to remain vigilant to the tell-tale signs of scammers as Australian banks continue to ramp-up protections to help keep their money safe. ABA CEO Anna Bligh said this year’s theme ‘share a story, stop a scam’ was an opportunity for all Australians to support each other and fight back against… Read more »

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Media Releases
SMS Sender ID Register a new weapon to help defeat scammers
23 August 2024

The ABA welcomes the passage of the SMS Sender ID Register legislation as one more weapon in Australia’s arsenal to win the war on scams. ABA CEO Anna Bligh said this new registry will help to disrupt the business models for SMS impersonation scammers and make Australia a harder target for scam activity. “Scammers usually… Read more »

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Media Releases
Banks launch new campaign in fight against scammers
12 August 2024

Campaign assets can be accessed here.  ​ 12 August 2024 Extra protections from banks to shield Australians from scams will be front and centre of a new campaign to be launched today.   With the tag line ‘The fight against scams never stops’, the campaign showcases the range of safeguards banks are introducing as part of the industry’s… Read more »

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Media Releases
New Confirmation of Payee service hits important milestone
8 August 2024

Australians are now one step closer to having access to another important layer of protection against scammers with the design of the new Confirmation of Payee service now complete.   Australian Payments Plus (AP+) and the Australian Banking Association (ABA) announced this important milestone today which, when rolled-out, will enable people paying to an account with… Read more »

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