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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The banking industry welcomes a new independent report by former Public Service Commissioner Mr Stephen Sedgwick AO, released today, which has found that banks are on track to meet their 2020 deadline to overhaul staff pay, a critical issue highlighted by the Royal Commission, while also noting there is more work to be done to ensure full implementation.
Farmers, small business owners, customers living in remote areas or with limited English and Australians with basic bank accounts will receive new protections under a revamped Banking Code of Practice in response to the Final Report of the Royal Commission.
Queensland cattle farmers affected by flooding are being urged to contact their banks, who have special teams ready to help and provide a wide range of assistance.
Customers affected by the recent floods in Queensland or bushfires in Tasmania are able to access assistance from their bank, which can include deferred loans payments, waiving fees and charges and assisting with debt consolidation.
The Australian banking industry acknowledges the rigour and diligence that Commissioner Hayne and his team have brought to this task.
In its submission to the first Privacy Impact Assessment of the Consumer Data Right released today Australia’s banks back strong privacy settings to protect customers and have identified the pilot, due to commence this year, as an important test.
Today’s announcement of the removal of the 30% benchmark for new interest-only residential mortgages will allow all banks to offer more choice for customers, leading to an increase in competition across the industry, particularly for smaller and regional banks.
Today the Australian Banking Association Council held its Annual General Meeting, re-electing Shayne Elliott as Chair and David Carter as Deputy Chair for another 12 months.
Australia’s banks have today committed to new principles to ensure accessible banking for the four million Australians living with disability. These principles have been developed in consultation with disability advocates and the banking industry.
The newly created Australian Financial Complaints Authority, to begin operation on November 1, is an important step to streamlining dispute resolution, making it easier to access and easier to understand for customers.
Australia’s banks will change the Banking Code of Practice to overhaul the way they manage a customer’s estate when they have died and end ‘fees for no service’ across the industry. Further to this they will seek new legislation to end grandfathered payments and trail commissions for financial advisers.
Today’s announcement of the new Drought Finance Taskforce, bringing together banks, government departments, elected representatives and peak bodies is an important vehicle to share information and identify ways banks can better assist Australia’s farmers and their local communities doing it tough.
Today’s release of the interim report of the Royal Commission into Financial Services, Insurance and Superannuation, marks a day of shame for Australia’s banks.
Today’s release of the ASIC report into compliance with breach reporting obligations shows that banks need to identify, report and fix issues more quickly to regain customer trust and ensure they comply with the law.
Australia’s fresh fruit farmers, including strawberry farmers, affected by the ‘fruit sabotage’ issue are being urged to contact their bank to access the assistance on offer which can include deferred loan payments, waiving fees and restructuring loans.
The new Banking Code of Practice standards, recently approved by ASIC, should be adopted across the entire industry and include banks which aren’t members of the Australian Banking Association (ABA) such as credit unions, building societies and other lenders to ensure there are no gaps in protections for customers.
Australia’s mortgage broking industry has ended the use of volume-based bonus commissions, campaign-based commissions, and other volume-based bonus payments. This is one of the main findings of an interim report prepared by the Combined Industry Forum.
Restoring trust and confidence in Australia’s banks through an open and transparent industry is the joint goal of Government, regulators and the sector. Banks will work proactively and in good faith with ASIC on the measures announced today to improve monitoring of regulation and increase the transparency of the financial services industry.
Australian banks welcome competition and compete not only through price, but through constant innovations to product features and experiences. Banks are constantly working to ensure customer satisfaction and the availability of quality products.
Australian bank customers will be the big winners from the approval of the new Banking Code of Practice by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.