Accessibility of banking Today, banks are effectively open 24-hours a day, seven-days-a-week.  Customers need not even leave their home or place of business to do their banking.  Having said this, banks understand that some customers need or prefer to bank face-to-face. As such, over the past 3 years, face-to-face services provided by banks – whether branch level or other - have been growing at a steady rate. In contrast, more than twenty years ago, banking services were operated using passbooks and offered only at branches between 10am and 5 pm, Monday to Friday.
	Affordability of banking On the whole, banking in Australia has never been more affordable than it is today. Improved affordability has been most marked for household and small business customers. Australian bank fees and profits are not high by world standards, and everyday banking is cheaper than basic services such as water and transport.
	Agribusiness banking Australian banks have a long history of providing financial services to farmers. This fact sheet outlines some of the specialist agribusiness products which have been developed to help in managing risk, special assistance which is provided by the sector during droughts and the importance of the contribution of the agriculture, forestry and fishing industries in Australia.
	Another day, another bill to pay Bills – we all get them and we all have to pay them. Sometimes it seems as if there’s a never ending chain of bills – just when you’ve paid a bill for the home phone, a bill for the mobile phone arrives. And why is it that the water company, the electricity company and the gas company all seem to send their bills at the same time? This fact sheet looks at the various options available for paying bills.
	Anti-Money Laundering and Suppression of Terrorist Financing The ABA and its member banks are committed to continuing to assist the Government in the detection of money laundering activities and terrorist financing. Banks and other institutions already have substantial responsibilities under legislation to monitor and report suspicious transactions, and perform other anti-money laundering (AML) functions.
	ATM reforms – when you use an ATM that does not belong to your bank hotlink to the fact sheet There has been a  significant change in the way bank customers pay for certain ATM transactions. The change affects the way customers are charged for using ATMs in Australia that don’t belong to your bank – a ‘foreign ATM transaction’. Drect charging at ATMs starts on 3 March 2009. These changes only affect transactions where a bank customer uses an ATM owned by another institution1 - this is known technically as a foreign ATM transaction.
	A strong banking system Australia has a long history of stable and safe banks.  One indicator is the fact that virtually no Australian has lost their deposit in an Australian bank in the last 100 years. The last failure where depositors’ money was lost occurred in 1931 when depositors in the Primary Producers Bank of Australia lost a negligible amount of their deposits.
	Bank account basics When dealing with banks we want you to be aware that your money is safe and secure and all personal information is handled in a confidential and safe manner. With warnings about fraud, identity theft and scams on the increase, it’s only natural to be concerned. Keeping your money safe is not only about taking precautions when you bank, especially on-line  – it’s also about protecting your rights as a consumer. In this fact sheet, we outline these two elements and provide some important safety checks.
	Banks and the Australian Economy By supplying financial products and services, banks help the so-called ‘real’ economy function more efficiently, and – just like any other industries, they add value to national wealth.  Indeed, without the services banks provide, it would be extremely difficult to keep the wheels of commerce turning. Because of what banks do, and where they fit into the economic cycle, means some of the banking industry’s key decisions have a direct impact on the economy. On the other hand, decisions made by households and businesses directly reverberate on banks. It is truly a two-way partnership.
	Banks’ funding - key issues (June 2009) Banks lend to home buyers, credit card customers, small and medium businesses and institutional clients. In order to support their lending, banks source their funds from customer deposits, from wholesale markets (domestic and international) and through securitisation. Since the onset of the global financial crisis in late 2007, bank funding costs have become a topic of considerable discussion, given their link to retail interest rates.   Since the global financial crisis began in late 2007, the Reserve Bank’s cash rate has not been an accurate indicator of changes in bank funding costs. This paper helps explain why this is the case.
	Banking and the GST Bank customers do not pay GST on most of the services they receive from banks.  Most of the services provided by banks are ‘input taxed’ under the GST. This means that banks pay GST on most things they purchase, but unlike other businesses they do not receive a tax credit for the tax they pay. This means they face higher costs as a result of the GST than other industries. These additional costs are taken into account when products and services are priced.
	Bank Profits Among Australia’s banks are some of our biggest businesses, so you would expect them to make large profits. When big businesses are well run, they make good profits, and this benefits all Australians.
	Bank Service Fees Banks charge fees for the service they provide to the customer. This is predominantly based on a user pays principle. That is, customers pay a reasonable fee for the cost of the services they use.
	Borrowing money - Obtaining and managing credit Almost all of us rely on borrowed money at some point to achieve a financial goal – whether it’s buying clothes or a DVD player with a credit card, or taking out a loan to buy a car, a business, or a house. In fact, without some form of credit, many of life’s bigger purchases would be unattainable. But to make borrowed money work for you rather than against you, it’s important to keep credit under control. This fact sheet outlines the ins and outs of obtaining and managing credit.
	Cheque Clearance Since 1999, banks have adopted a system to allow faster clearance of cheques. By electronically transmitting some information about a cheque, the normal clearance time was brought down by at least two working days.
	Code of Banking Practice The Code establishes the banking sector’s key commitments and obligations to its individual and small business customers on standards of practice, disclosure and principles of conduct for their banking services.
	Comparison of regulatory capital frameworks APRA and the UK FSA This Fact Sheet compares the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority’s (APRA’s) and the UK Financial Services Authority’s (FSA’s) regulatory capital frameworks, and the implementation of those regulators’ Basel II Frameworks as applicable to banks accredited to use the advanced modelling approaches to Basel II (‘advanced banks’). Version 1 – published November 2008  Version 2 - Updated and revised published June 2009 Version 3 Changes highlighted from original published document (November 2008)
	Contact your bank - Solving your banking problems With thousands of retail banking products and services on offer from banks, and millions of transactions conducted every year, it’s little wonder that sometimes you just need someone to help point you in the right direction. This fact sheet is all about the assistance available to banking consumers – whether it’s help with keeping your finances on track, help with understanding the language, or help with making a complaint
	Competition Benefits Consumers Australia's 17 million bank customers enjoy the benefits of strong competition in a deregulated banking system.
	Contribution to the community Banks in Australia value the communities in which they find themselves and are committed to giving something back to those communities. Every year, community organisations receive over $90 million of direct support in various forms, from banks.
	Dealing with Debt – how banks can help if you are experiencing financial difficulty Recent changes in the global financial environment, we well as the domestic economy, have affected bank customers because interest rates have increased across a range of bank products. Additional pressures such as illness or job loss can result in difficulty repaying loans. Banks want to you during periods of financial difficulty but you must contact them as early as possible for assistance.
	Drought Assistance The banking sector recognises the seriousness of drought and will continue supporting viable farmers.  Banks recognise that drought is a part of the normal business cycle of farming and understand its impact on farm incomes.
	Exception Fees Current This fact sheet on exception fees provides updated information and comparative tables.  It follows an earlier fact sheet (August 2007 – see bellow). Since the ABA announced its initiative in May 2007 to provide more information, most banks have updated the information available and provided tips on how to avoid these fees. They have also either reduced or abolished some exception fees.
	Exception Fees - August 2007 In May 2007 the Australian Bankers’ Association (ABA) and member banks undertook to provide improved information on exception fees, in response to community debate. This was the first fact sheet published and the fact sheet listed above is the second, containing updated data.
	False information circulating on e-mail about PINs The Australian Bankers’ Association (ABA) says information circulating in an e-mail about the use of a ‘reverse PIN’ at an ATM is false. From time to time, an e-mail containing incorrect information circulates in the community. This fact sheet has been prepared advising the community about this ‘urban myth’. The e-mail claims that by entering your PIN in reverse into an ATM will summon police. This claim is false.
	Fee-free and low cost banking Banks provide extensive basic account banking to the community.  At a minimum, the banking industry offers basic accounts to six out of every ten Australians. By the same token, the true extent of basic banking extends well beyond this. Many general customers enjoy access to basic account banking, owing to a host of mainstream products in the market that satisfy ‘basic banking’ criteria.
	Financial Services Reform Legislation The financial services reform framework was legislated as the Financial Services Reform Act 2001 (FSR). The FSR has subsequently been incorporated into Chapter 7 of the Corporations Act 2001. The objective of the FSR is to put in place a regulatory framework for harmonised licensing, disclosure and conduct for financial products, financial markets and financial services providers.
	Financial Services Sector Australian household and business customers enjoy the benefits of a flexible financial services industry that is one of the most advanced in the world.
	Financial System History Selected events in the evolution of the financial system in Australia.
	Handy budget planner We’ve put together this handy planner to help you create a personal budget. You can use this as a base for developing your own version, or simply print out a copy and fill in the blanks. Creating a budget is an excellent way to get a snapshot of your financial situation and see where your money is going. Use it as a regular reference to help manage your spending and progress towards your financial goals.
	Money Lingo - Understanding common banking words  Opening a bank account can mean getting used to a few new things – and the first thing you have to get to know is the lingo! Dealing with money and banking involves lots of words and terms that you might not have come across before. In this fact sheet, we provide a simple guide to some of the common words that you might encounter when dealing with your bank.
	Money Mules Explained  Have you ever been approached online with an offer to earn hundreds or thousands of dollars in commission simply by receiving money and remitting it to another bank account? Or have you been asked to help someone in financial difficulty by receiving funds and then returning some of the funds to another person or organisation?  These are scams!  A criminal is trying to recruit you as a money mule to transfer and disguise the money as proceeds of crime. This fact sheet, compiled by the Australian Bankers’ Association and the Australian High Tech Crime Centre, will help you recognise this scam and avoid becoming involved in illegal activity.
	New Ways of Banking The world has entered the 21st century and life, even for banks, is changing at an express pace. Banks are at the cutting edge of change resulting from the new wave of electronics and telecommunications. Significant customer and community benefits are being delivered as banks deliver their services through ATMs, telephones, in the supermarket and online. The bank that does not adapt to the new and infinitely cheaper delivery systems will be swamped by the competition.
	Online Shopping fact sheet This fact sheet provides some important security tips to follow when shopping online. When making purchases online, it is important to protect your personal information. The Australian Bankers’ Association and the Australian Federal Police prepared this fact sheet to help consumers when transacting online.
	Protecting Your Financial Identity Identity theft involves the theft of a pre-existing identity.  This fact sheet will help you recognise the crime and provides some useful advice on how to protect your identity from thieves.
	Protecting Your Information Online When you access the Internet, it’s important that you safeguard your personal information. Just as you lock the door when you leave the house, it’s crucial you take steps to protect yourself against Internet crime. This fact sheet provides useful tips.
	Protect Your Kids Online This fact sheet is designed to help parents talk to their children about online safety and protecting their identity from criminals. Even though your children may be technically proficient on the computer and using the Internet, you can still talk to them about safe online practices. This fact sheet has been prepared by the Australian Bankers’ Association (ABA) and the Australian Federal Police (AFP). Banks and the AFP are committed to helping Australians understand how some simple steps can protect their identities from theft.
	Refinance Your Business Debt For many small businesses the initial financing arrangements put in place at start up are still in place many years later. For example, a company starts off with a simple overdraft facility and may arrange for several modest increases in the facility overtime, without consideration of the suitability of the debt arrangements to its current and future needs or the cost/benefit of the facility. Small business owners and their advisers should review existing debt finance arrangements on a regular basis. This ensures that the finance facility and structure fits the current needs of the business. This fact sheet will discuss the areas that small to medium-sized businesses need to consider when undertaking a review of existing debt finance. It has been prepared by the Australian Bankers’ Association and CPA Australia.
	Safe Banking at ATMs Automatic teller machines (ATMs) have made banking more convenient today than ever before. Customer security is a key consideration when locating ATMs. The sites chosen are well lit, highly visible to passing traffic and free of obstruction that could block vision. Wherever cash is handled, it pays to be careful and ATMs are no different.
	Safety check - Protecting your money When dealing with banks we want you to be aware that your money is safe and secure and all personal information is handled in a confidential and safe manner. With warnings about fraud, identity theft and scams on the increase, it’s only natural to be concerned. Keeping your money safe is not only about taking precautions when you bank, especially on-line  – it’s also about protecting your rights as a consumer. In this fact sheet, we outline these two elements and provide some important safety checks.
	Small Business – Applying for a loan – Joint fact sheet with CPA Australia One of the key challenges for many small to medium businesses is working out how to approach the bank for a loan. Small businesses often look to finance their business needs with debt. This fact sheet will discuss how small to medium businesses can prepare for the bank finance application process
	Small business banking information for new migrants to Australia Money and banking are part of everyday life. It’s important to choose the banking products and services that are right for your personal needs and business requirements. This fact sheet may assist with some information about opening an account, applying for a business loan and protecting your personal information.
	Small Business – Dealing with Debt– how banks can help if the small business is experiencing financial difficulties Recent changes in the financial environment and the domestic economy have affected many bank customers including small business customers. If you do encounter problems, it is best to get in touch with your bank as quickly as possible and together work out a strategy for keeping on top of your loan.
	Small Business Lending This fact sheet presents a range of information relating to business lending, as sourced from the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) and others. ABA seeks out data which provide insights into lending to small business.  Many of these data are readily available to all, such as interest rates relating to a range of small business products.
	Small Business - Protecting Your Business Information Online Small businesses are increasingly opting to do business via the Internet.  However, this new way of doing business can expose the business to risk through the very medium which is providing tremendous advantage.  This fact sheet provides useful information on protecting access to your systems and business records from thieves.
	Warning  to students – don’t get caught by mule scams Job offers that involve transferring money or goods for someone you don’t know are nearly always a scam. Criminals are trying to use you as a money mule to transfer and disguise their proceeds of crime. Participating in these scams and transferring this money could lead to a police investigation and criminal charges against you for your part in a criminal enterprise.  This activity is also unacceptable to banks and may result in the withdrawal of your banking facilities. This fact sheet, compiled by the Australian Bankers’ Association (ABA) and the Australian Federal Police (AFP), will help you recognise these types of scams and avoid becoming involved in unlawful activity.