8th May 2018

Easy credit no more: how shocks from Australian banks’ inquiry may squeeze a nation

Australia’s biggest banks are imposing stricter lending conditions on borrowers as damaging disclosures at an inquiry into financial-sector misconduct prompt fears the economy will be the victim of a new era of subdued credit growth. Australia and New Zealand Banking Group last week said that in the wake of the… Read More

2nd May 2018

Scandal-hit bank’s risk management scheme ‘worked better on paper than in practice’

An inquiry into the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA), one of nation’s main banks, has found it had an immature, under-resourced compliance function and a system that worked better in theory than in practice. The findings were published by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) in its final report of… Read More

24th April 2018

Australia vows crackdown on corporate misconduct as bank inquiry claims AMP scalp

An Australian inquiry into financial sector misconduct claimed its first scalp on Friday as the CEO of the country’s largest wealth manager stepped down over revelations of board-level deception and misappropriation of funds. The departure of AMP Ltd’s (AMP.AX) Craig Meller came as the government vowed to double prison terms… Read More

20th April 2018

Lost home, fees for the dead – Australia banking inquiry hears testimony

An Australian inquiry into the financial services sector heard tearful testimony on Thursday from a nurse who lost her home after taking advice from a major lender, and that the country’s biggest bank knowingly charged dead clients for counsel. The testimony was among the most personal yet at the Royal… Read More

18th April 2018

Australia govt says banking executives responsible for misconduct could face jail

Australian Treasurer Scott Morrison warned on Wednesday that financial sector executives responsible for widespread breaches of corporate law could face jail, as a powerful judicial inquiry heard more evidence of misconduct by the country’s top financial institutions. Morrison’s comments were made after executives for AMP Ltd (AMP.AX), Australia’s largest wealth… Read More

11th April 2018

Australian money-laundering watchdog moves to regulate bitcoin providers

Australia has brought the country’s cryptocurrency providers under the purview of its financial intelligence unit, a move it hopes will help minimize the risk of money laundering, terrorism financing and cybercrime. Effective immediately, all so-called digital currency exchange providers with operations in Australia must register with AUSTRAC, the government agency… Read More

5th April 2018

Australia drops anti-money laundering obligations for cash-in-transit, designated firms

Businesses providing cash-in-transit and insurance services, except car dealers, have been exempted from compliance and reporting obligations under Australia’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism funding rules (2006). They will also no longer be required to report transactions or suspicious matters, in accordance with the Financial Transaction Reports Act 1988, financial regulator… Read More

26th March 2018

Australia’s big banks broke laws and failed public, inquiry reveals

Australia’s top banks routinely and repeatedly breached laws when issuing home loans, credit cards and other consumer loans, according to a scathing summary of the first round of hearings at the country’s inquiry into financial misconduct. Rowena Orr, barrister assisting the judicial inquiry, said on Friday the misconduct found in… Read More

25th March 2018

UK and Australian regulators sign deal to boost fintech innovation

British and Australian authorities have endorsed an agreement to bolster fintech innovation and proactively assist businesses in the sector. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) on Thursday signed an Enhanced Cooperation Agreement , which is part of the Fintech Bridge signed by the… Read More

15th March 2018

Banking inquiry: CBA knew of risks but put ‘volume’ ahead

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA.AX) Chief Executive Ian Narev knew that a system of financial incentives to reward mortgage brokers could hurt customers but failed to act, an inquiry into Australia’s financial sector heard on Thursday. A confidential letter penned by Narev in 2017 and disclosed on the third day… Read More