ISA claims about banks sidestepping FOFA ridiculous: ABA

Sydney, 4 October 2016: The Australian Bankers’ Association has today strongly rejected the claim by Industry Super Australia that banks ‘sidestep’ Future of Financial Advice protections when advising customers on superannuation.

“It is ridiculous to claim that the increase in major banks’ superannuation market share points to ‘obvious market failure’,” ABA Executive Director – Retail Policy Diane Tate said.

“Banks have made significant investment to change their practices and systems to comply with the Future of Financial Advice laws, banning conflicted remuneration and introducing a best interest duty,” she said.

“We also support new legislation to raise education, ethical and professional standards for all financial advisers.”

Ms Tate said customers want a one-stop-shop for their basic banking and financial services. 

“Banks are using technology to make sure their customers have the convenience of being able to access all their products and services in one place, like using their smartphone, and with the confidence their money is secure.

“Banks have raised the competency and ethical standards of financial advisers. For example, just last month the industry announced a new way of hiring financial advisers to stop advisers with poor conduct records moving around the industry. 

“We have also established an independent review into how banks pay staff and reward them for selling products and services,” she said.

“Industry super funds are competitors with banks. If only this was a campaign about doing the right thing by customers; but really it is just a competitive play,” Ms Tate said.

ENDS

Contact: Stephanie Arena 0477 470 677 or Nic Frankham 0435 963 913

@austbankers

bankers.asn.au