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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
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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Speech
Opening statement to Senate Inquiry into Financial Regulatory Framework & Home Ownership
24 October 2024

Good morning, Chair and members of the committee. Australian banks are committed to responsible lending rules, APRA requirements, and the Banking Code of Practice to protect consumers purchasing a home. Owning a home is central to the Australian way of life, and banks are committed to supporting first home buyers. In the last five years,… Read more »

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Transcript
Interview with 6PR on the proposal to ban surcharging  
15 October 2024

Gary Adshead (Host): And what’s happening is the ACCC, Australian Competition and Consumer Commission are going to be given some funding to tackle this as an issue and then potentially ban debit card charges from January 1, 2026 that seems a long way away anyway. Let’s talk about it now with Anna Bligh, the CEO… 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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Transcript
Doorstop in Sydney on new mandatory industry scams codes  
13 September 2024

Anna Bligh: This new framework is a comprehensive approach to the terrible scourge of scams. This will mean that every single part of the scam chain where scammers try to take the hard earned money of Australians will now have to play a role in preventing scams, detecting them and keeping Australians safe.  Journalist: I… 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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Transcript
Interview on ABC Radio Sydney on surcharges
4 September 2024

Craig Reucassel (Host): It’s also there was a bit of an inquiry into banking in parliament last week, NAB boss Andrew Irvine complained that he’d paid a 10 per cent surcharge when he bought a cup of coffee in Sydney. Surcharging has been outlawed in parts of the United States, Canada, Europe and Britain. Is… Read more »

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Op-Ed
Why Australia’s whole-of-scam-chain approach is key to winning the war against scammers
3 September 2024

One of the most alarming consequences of the recent CrowdStrike technical outage was how quickly scammers moved to take advantage of it. Within 24 hours, the Australian Cyber Security Centre had issued a warning to Australians about the potential risk of scams. Scammers pounced, impersonating CrowdStrike and Microsoft employees to trick people into providing remote access to… 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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Transcript
Interview on ABC Radio Sydney on scams
30 August 2024

Sarah Macdonald (Host): Have you had a call from your bank to check you’re okay? Did you see the Commonwealth Bank in Canberra yesterday appearing and executives saying it is taking down 50 fake Commonwealth Bank websites a week, 50 a week. As you know, Australians are losing a lot of money to scams, $3… 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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Transcript
Doorstop interview on surcharging 
23 August 2024

Journalist: Maybe if we start off just with these merchant fees and card surcharges, I guess, why are they even necessary to begin with? Anna Bligh: Every time you make a purchase with a card and that payment goes to the person it’s supposed to go to, it’s gone over a set of rails. They’re… 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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Transcript
Interview on ABC Perth about new scams campaign
12 August 2024

Jo Trilling (Host): When was the last time your phone pinged with a message from your bank, a fake one, of course, because they are rarely ever real, but they are relentless. So, should the banks be doing more to stop it? Anna Bligh is the CEO of the Australian Banking Association. Welcome to Drive… Read more »

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Transcript
Interview on 6PR about new scams campaign
12 August 2024

Oliver Peterson (Host): Extra protections from the banks to shield you from scams are going to be front and centre of a new campaign, which has been launched today by the Australian Banking Association. Joining me on the line is its CEO, Anna Bligh, good afternoon.  Anna Bligh (Guest): Good afternoon. How are you?  Oliver… Read more »

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Transcript
Interview on FiveAA about new scams campaign
12 August 2024

Matthew Pantelis (Host): But let’s talk scams and banks, because there’s a new campaign launched to protect us well, to at least educate us further about scams. It’s called ‘The Fight Against Scams Never Stops’. Anna Bligh, CEO, Australian Bankers Association. Anna, good morning. Anna Bligh (Guest): Good morning. How are you? Matthew Pantelis: All… Read more »

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Transcript
Interview on ABC Melbourne about new scams campaign
12 August 2024

Raf Epstein (Host): When was the last time your phone pinged and there was a message from your bank a fake one, of course, because they’re never real. Uh, but they come thick and fast. They are relentless. Should the banks be doing more to stop it? We are joined by Anna Bligh, CEO of… 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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