Skip to main content
Financial Assistance Hub

Safety remains banking industry pandemic priority

14 October 2021

As essential services, Australia’s banks have focussed, throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, on keeping their staff and customers safe.

Safety measures have included:

  • Maintaining social distancing in branches and workplaces
  • Installing protective screens and supplying PPE to staff
  • Facilitating work from home where possible

ABA member banks also recognise that vaccination is a critical measure to protect against COVID-19 and are actively encouraging and supporting their staff to get vaccinated, including with the provision of paid leave for staff to access vaccinations and, in some locations, undertaking employer vaccination and testing programs.

After further industry discussions, individual banks have considered their next steps and will be undertaking appropriate consultation with their staff on an entity by entity basis.


COVID-19: banks are here to help.

Latest news

1 / 3
Transcript
ABA CEO Simon Birmingham transcript of interview on Sky News with Ross Greenwood
21 June 2026

E&OETV InterviewSky News Business Weekend with Ross Greenwood21 June 2026 Topics: Economic contribution of banks Ross Greenwood: Well Australia’s banks, love them or loathe them, they are a necessity. We need them strong to provide the security for lenders and depositors. We need them well-regulated to keep them from again putting profit ahead of their… Read more »

Read more
Speech
The value of banking: ABA CEO Simon Birmingham’s address to Banking 2026
17 June 2026

ABA CEO Simon Birmingham delivered the following introductory remarks ahead of a panel on the value of banking to the Australian economy, launching new Mandala research, at the 2026 ABA Banking Conference. Our piece of work that has been released today, Mandala providing the intellectual backdrop and analysis to support us in this, the essential… Read more »

Read more
Media Releases
Economic contribution of Australian banks laid bare in new report
17 June 2026

Surging household ownership of Australian banks, record lending to first home buyers and strong competition helping mortgage holders save up to $2,000 a year are some of the findings of a new report released today. ‘The essential infrastructure: How Australian banks power the economy’ produced by Mandala on behalf of the ABA finds: ABA CEO Simon… Read more »

Read more