Skip to main content
Financial Assistance Hub

ABA ready to assist Regional Banking Taskforce

22 October 2021

The Australian Banking Association (ABA) stands ready to assist the newly established Regional Banking Taskforce.

For more than 200 years, banks in Australia have provided essential services to customers across the country, and that commitment continues today.

As more Australians prefer to do their banking online, banks are investing in new digital services to meet their needs.

Anna Bligh, Chief Executive Officer at the ABA, said the banking industry continues to provide banking support for regional and rural communities in Australia.

“Australian banks remain committed to providing banking services to every Australian, especially those in regional and remote areas,” Ms Bligh said.

“Despite more than 80 per cent of Australians preferring to do their everyday banking online, banks still have thousands of branches across the country, in addition to the banking services that banks pay to make available in 3500 Australia Post outlets.”

“Recent APRA data shows that the overwhelming majority of bank branch closures in the past year have been in major cities, and not in regional areas.”

Australian banks remain committed to providing banking services to every Australian, especially those in regional and remote areas,”

ABA CEO Anna Bligh

Where branches are closed, it’s because customers no longer need to do their banking face to face.

“As the world we live in continues to become more digitalised, the way customers want to do their banking is following the same trend,” Ms Bligh said.

“Banking online platforms and apps are so incredibly advanced these days, most Australians are carrying around a bank branch in their pockets.”

“The ABA will work with the Regional Banking Taskforce to highlight the improvements in bank services to all Australians, especially those in regional areas.”

Latest news

1 / 3
Transcript
ABA CEO Simon Birmingham transcript of interview on ABC Melbourne with Ali Moore
6 February 2026

E&OERadio InterviewABC Melbourne5 February 2026. Topics: Interest rates; Customers ahead on mortgage repayments Ali Moore (Host): I want to look next, though, at the interest rate increase. The argument is that, yes, it’s a blunt instrument, but it is the only instrument the Reserve Bank has. And right now, they say that inflation that prices… Read more »

Read more
Transcript
ABA CEO Simon Birmingham transcript of interview on ABC Radio Brisbane with Steve Austin
3 February 2026

E&OERadio InterviewABC Brisbane3 February 2026 Topics: RBA interest rate decision; Access to credit cards; Armaguard and cash usage Steve Austin (Host): Well, why is it near impossible to obtain a credit card when you’re over 60? My guest is the new Chief Executive for the Australian Banking Association, Simon Birmingham. Former federal liberal politician, Simon… Read more »

Read more
Media Releases
ABA congratulates Sarah Court on appointment as ASIC Chair
3 February 2026

The ABA congratulates Sarah Court on her appointment as the new Chair of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). ABA CEO Simon Birmingham described this as a significant appointment and a landmark moment for Ms Court and Australia’s corporate regulator. “Sarah is an experienced regulator, having held numerous senior legal and regulatory enforcement positions… Read more »

Read more