Skip to main content
Financial Assistance Hub

Support for WA bushfire areas

5 February 2021


West Australians affected by bushfires in parts of the state are encouraged to contact their bank to access a wide range of available assistance


“With more than 80 homes and properties lost to date, tragically many West Australians will be facing financial difficulty on top of everything else”, said Australian Banking Association CEO Anna Bligh.

“The message from banks is clear: don’t tough it out on your own, your bank is ready to help”.

In recent years bank hardship teams have been working with communities impacted by natural disasters, offering customers a range of services including deferred loan repayments, waiving fees and charges and restructuring of existing loans.  

“The most important consideration right now is staying safe. But when West Australians affected by recent bushfires are ready to pick up the pieces, their bank will be ready to help,” Ms Bligh said.

“The most important consideration right now is staying safe. But when West Australians affected by recent bushfires are ready to pick up the pieces, their bank will be ready to help,”

ABA CEO Anna Bligh

ABA member banks offer a range of services to help customers affected by bushfires or other circumstances outside their control. These can include: 

  • A deferral of scheduled loan repayments 
  • Waiving fees and charges, including break costs on early access to term deposits
  • Debt consolidation to help make repayments more manageable 
  • Restructuring existing loans free of the usual establishment fees 
  • Deferring interest payments on a case-by-case basis 
  • Offering additional finance to help cover cash flow shortages 
  • Deferring upcoming credit card payments 
  • Increasing emergency credit card limits.  

Small businesses affected by bushfires are also encouraged to contact their bank to access various forms of assistance.

For more information, or to find the number for your bank’s hardship team go to dev2.ausbanking.ds1.pensoagency.com/doingittough.  


Bushfire assistance / bank hardship teams

Latest news

1 / 3
Media Releases
SIMON BIRMINGHAM APPOINTED AS ABA CEO
20 June 2025

Former Federal Finance Minister and Senate Leader, The Hon. Simon Birmingham, will join the Australian Banking Association as Chief Executive Officer. ABA Chair and National Australia Bank CEO Andrew Irvine today announced Mr Birmingham’s appointment, replacing retiring CEO, The Hon. Anna Bligh AC. “We are delighted to have Simon lead our industry and help ensure… Read more »

Read more
Transcript
Anna Bligh interview on ABC Radio Darwin
18 June 2025

Rick Hind: Anna Bligh is the CEO of the Australian Banking Association. Welcome back to 105.7 ABC Radio Darwin. Anna Bligh: Good morning, great to be with you. Rick Hind: Is it getting easier to scam people out of money from their bank accounts? Given how good technology is, the scammers seem to have as… Read more »

Read more
Media Releases
EOFY is prime time for scammers
16 June 2025

With end of financial year nearly here, the ABA is reminding customers to be on high alert for scammers looking to steal your hard-earned money. Common EOFY scams to be on the lookout for: ABA CEO Anna Bligh said with the end of financial year approaching, scammers are lining up and looking to cash in…. Read more »

Read more