Borrow
Banking Code changes to better protect vulnerable Aussies
The charging of overdraft and dishonour fees on basic, low fee and no fee accounts for Australian concession card holders is no longer permissible after recent changes to the Banking Code of Practice.
Banking Code changes to better protect vulnerable Aussies
The charging of overdraft and dishonour fees on basic, low fee and no fee accounts for Australian concession card holders is no longer permissible after recent changes to the Banking Code of Practice.

It’s just one of the changes that was originally recommended by commissioner Hayne in his final report for the banking royal commission.
The 2020 Banking Code of Practice now also prevents default interest from being applied to agricultural loans while farms are affected by drought or natural disaster, and aims to ensure services to people with limited English as well as those living in remote areas are inclusive and accessible.
Guaranteed features for basic bank accounts have also been flagged for their inclusion in the Code.
Commenting on the changes, ABA CEO Anna Bligh considered that “the banking industry has been working hard to implement the recommendations of commissioner Hayne’s final report, which included important changes to the Banking Code of Practice”.

The changes “will form part of the promises made to customers through the industry’s Banking Code of Practice”, Ms Bligh flagged.
She stated that the Code changes are in addition to a number of actions already taken by banks as a direct result of the royal commission, including the end to fees for no service and a remediation bill topping $5.8 billion.
The changes to the code come as consumer advocacy groups have praised 24 potential pieces of legislation that would ensure “the financial wellbeing of customers is truly prioritised” in the financial services sector.
About the author

About the author


Banking
AMP Bank GO adds business overdraft to mobile platform for small businesses
AMP Bank has launched a business overdraft feature within its mobile-first banking platform AMP Bank GO as cash flow concerns continue to affect small business owners across Australia. Read more

Banking
Bendigo Bank named most trusted bank in Australia for 10th consecutive quarter
Bendigo Bank has retained its position as Australia's most trusted bank, according to the latest trust rankings released by research firm Roy Morgan. Read more

Banking
Account-to-account and instant payments set to reshape global payments landscape
A new report from Capgemini predicts that instant payments will account for 22% of all non-cash transactions globally by 2028, signaling a major shift in the payments industry. Read more

Banking
Powell's Jackson Hole speech to shape market expectations on rate cuts
All eyes are on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's upcoming speech at the Jackson Hole symposium, as investors anxiously await clues about the central bank's future rate decisions. Read more

Banking
Bendigo Bank economist forecasts stable rates for 2024, cuts in 2025
Bendigo Bank's Chief Economist David Robertson is maintaining his prediction that the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) will keep interest rates unchanged throughout 2024, with cuts likely to begin in ...Read more

Banking
Hawkish central bank expectations dampen market sentiment, boosting dollar
Recent economic data and central bank communications have dampened the market's appetite for risk assets, leading to a stronger US dollar and a pullback in commodities and equities, according to Ipek ...Read more

Banking
Bank of England expected to provide guidance on future rate cuts at today's MPC meeting
European and UK stocks are outperforming their US counterparts due to a combination of factors, including high valuations in the US, strong corporate earnings from European companies, and expectations ...Read more

Banking
Investors advised to prepare for central bank policy divergence, says deVere CEO
The Bank of England, European Central Bank (ECB), and US Federal Reserve are set to take different paths in their monetary policies, which will significantly impact investors around the world, ...Read more

Banking
AMP Bank GO adds business overdraft to mobile platform for small businesses
AMP Bank has launched a business overdraft feature within its mobile-first banking platform AMP Bank GO as cash flow concerns continue to affect small business owners across Australia. Read more

Banking
Bendigo Bank named most trusted bank in Australia for 10th consecutive quarter
Bendigo Bank has retained its position as Australia's most trusted bank, according to the latest trust rankings released by research firm Roy Morgan. Read more

Banking
Account-to-account and instant payments set to reshape global payments landscape
A new report from Capgemini predicts that instant payments will account for 22% of all non-cash transactions globally by 2028, signaling a major shift in the payments industry. Read more

Banking
Powell's Jackson Hole speech to shape market expectations on rate cuts
All eyes are on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's upcoming speech at the Jackson Hole symposium, as investors anxiously await clues about the central bank's future rate decisions. Read more

Banking
Bendigo Bank economist forecasts stable rates for 2024, cuts in 2025
Bendigo Bank's Chief Economist David Robertson is maintaining his prediction that the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) will keep interest rates unchanged throughout 2024, with cuts likely to begin in ...Read more

Banking
Hawkish central bank expectations dampen market sentiment, boosting dollar
Recent economic data and central bank communications have dampened the market's appetite for risk assets, leading to a stronger US dollar and a pullback in commodities and equities, according to Ipek ...Read more

Banking
Bank of England expected to provide guidance on future rate cuts at today's MPC meeting
European and UK stocks are outperforming their US counterparts due to a combination of factors, including high valuations in the US, strong corporate earnings from European companies, and expectations ...Read more

Banking
Investors advised to prepare for central bank policy divergence, says deVere CEO
The Bank of England, European Central Bank (ECB), and US Federal Reserve are set to take different paths in their monetary policies, which will significantly impact investors around the world, ...Read more