19 May 2017
Sydney, 18 May 2017: Deputy Australian Bankers’ Association Chairman and Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Chief Executive Mike Hirst has today described rumours of a split in the ABA as “complete rubbish”.
“From time to time there are occasions where banks have different views and different commercial interests. However, 99 per cent of the time we agree,” Mr Hirst said.
“As individual members we each have the strength and respect for each other that allows us to have robust discussions on a variety of issues.
“Together we are a strong industry with a strong industry association working to provide better banking for Australia’s customers,” he said.
ABA Chief Executive Anna Bligh has been in regular contact with non-major bank CEOs, including a teleconference with all regional bank CEOs as recently as yesterday afternoon, and has several scheduled meetings with non-major bank executives in the coming days.
ENDS
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“Australian banks are certainly better equipped now than they were in the GFC. They’ve got 2 to 2.5 times the capital reserves put aside for a rainy day than they had in the GFC”
“The Australian Banking Association (ABA) welcomes the agreement reached today on the proposed safeguard mechanism reforms, given it paves the way for the passing of a critical piece of legislation for Australia.
“This is about engaging with the entire banking ecosystem in order to ensure the accessibility of the sector’s services are best serving our diverse community now, and into the future.”