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.
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Banks are on standby to assist customers across Queensland and Northern NSW who might be impacted by Tropical Cyclone Alfred in the coming days. ABA CEO Anna Bligh said banks are closely monitoring the developing situation along the east coast and are putting in place arrangements to support customers in affected areas. “This is a… Read more »
Download radio grabs from ABA CEO Anna Bligh here. With the footy season kicking off, fans looking to get their hands on high demand or last-minute tickets are being urged to exercise extra vigilance and be on alert for ticket scams. The ABA is warning passionate supporters to not fall victim to ticket scammers –… Read more »
Download radio grabs from ABA CEO Anna Bligh here & view the Code video here. Continuing to drive better outcomes for customers is the key focus of the ABA’s new Banking Code of Practice, being launched today. This new rule book for banks provides customers with safeguards that are not set out in law and… Read more »
The ABA welcomes the release of the Flequity 2025 Respect and Protect Index showing the banking industry is leading the way in protecting customers from financial abuse. The report highlights that 29 banks have or are taking action to change policies or product terms and conditions to safeguard customers from financial abuse and make it… Read more »
Banks welcome the passage today of critical scam fighting legislation to better protect Australians and help drive financial losses down even further. This new Scam Prevention Framework and the industry codes that will follow for banks, telcos and digital platforms are crucial in ongoing efforts to scam-proof Australia. ABA CEO Anna Bligh said Australia was leading the… Read more »
The ABA welcomes the Federal Government’s move to have ASIC and APRA further clarify lending rules in relation to the treatment of HELP debts. ABA CEO Anna Bligh said this was a constructive step and the potential to unlock more credit for prospective homebuyers could assist them in realising the dream of home ownership. “Our… Read more »
Australian banks continue to back customers in the bush, committing to keeping more branches open and securing the availability of services at Bank@Post. Despite branch interactions falling by 50 per cent in recent years as customers switch to digital channels, Australian banks still maintain a higher branch density than the OECD average. This commitment today… Read more »
With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, the ABA is warning Aussies to guard their hearts—and their bank accounts—as scammers ramp-up the use of artificial intelligence and deepfakes to steal money. According to ScamWatch, last year Australians reported over 3,200 romance scams with losses amounting to almost $24 million. Romance scam red flags: ABA CEO Anna… Read more »
Download radio grabs of Anna Bligh here. The ABA is urging the Parliament to swiftly pass legislation that will ensure Australia’s payments regulatory framework remains fit-for-purpose as digital payments continue to skyrocket. According to the RBA, each month Australians are now making over 500 million payments with mobile wallets worth over $20 billion. This legislation… Read more »
The Chief Executive of the Australian Banking Association (ABA) and former Queensland Premier, Anna Bligh AC, will retire in mid-2025 once a replacement is appointed. ABA Chair and National Australia Bank CEO Andrew Irvine today announced that Ms Bligh had advised him that she had decided to retire after more than eight years in the… Read more »
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 »
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 »
As Boxing Day sales kick-off, banks are warning Australians to be on the alert for scammers looking to deceive shoppers through shonky websites and fake parcel notifications. The ABA is urging shoppers to be on the lookout for: ABA CEO Anna Bligh warned that scammers were on the prowl and will be looking to take advantage… Read more »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »