The Australian Banking Association (ABA ), formerly the Australian Bankers' Association , is the trade association for the Australian banking industry . The ABA was founded in 1985[ 1] and is based in Sydney , New South Wales . The ABA represents twenty-two banks[ 2] and associate members. It provides analysis, advice, and advocacy for the banking industry and contributes to the public policy development on banking and other financial services.[ 3]
The ABA's stated goal is to advocate and promote policies for improvements and development of the banking industry through advocacy, research, policy expertise, and thought leadership.[ 4] [ 5] [ 6]
In 2020, under CEO Anna Bligh , the ABA's public profile had risen[ 4] due to the industry's response to Australia's "Black Summer " fires,[ 2] and collective measures to help cushion the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic .[ 7]
The following served as chairs of the Association:
Order
Officeholder
Title
Bank
Term began
Term end
Time in office
Notes
1
Stuart Fowler
Chair
Westpac
1990
August 1991 (1991-08 )
0–1 years
[ 8]
2
Frank Conroy
September 1991 (1991-09 )
2 July 1992 (1992-07-02 )
0–1 years
[ 9]
3
Don Argus
NAB
2 July 1992 (1992-07-02 )
1994
1–2 years
[ 9]
4
David Murray
CBA
1994
July 1996 (1996-07 )
1–2 years
[ 10]
5
Don Mercer
ANZ
July 1996 (1996-07 )
30 September 1997 (1997-09-30 )
0–1 years
[ 11] [ 12]
6
Robert L. Joss
Westpac
30 September 1997 (1997-09-30 )
June 1999 (1999-06 )
1–2 years
[ 12]
7
Frank Cicutto
NAB
June 1999 (1999-06 )
23 May 2001 (2001-05-23 )
1–2 years
[ 13] [ 14]
8
David Murray
CBA
23 May 2001 (2001-05-23 )
17 June 2003 (2003-06-17 )
2 years, 25 days
[ 13] [ 15]
9
John McFarlane
ANZ
17 June 2003 (2003-06-17 )
27 June 2005 (2005-06-27 )
2 years, 10 days
[ 13] [ 16]
10
David Morgan
Westpac
27 June 2005 (2005-06-27 )
17 July 2007 (2007-07-17 )
2 years, 20 days
[ 17]
11
John Stewart
NAB
17 July 2007 (2007-07-17 )
3 December 2008 (2008-12-03 )
1 year, 139 days
[ 18] [ 19]
12
Ralph Norris
CBA
3 December 2008 (2008-12-03 )
30 November 2011 (2011-11-30 )
2 years, 362 days
[ 20]
13
Mike Smith
ANZ
1 December 2011 (2011-12-01 )
4 February 2013 (2013-02-04 )
1 year, 61 days
[ 19]
14
Gail Kelly
Westpac
4 December 2013 (2013-12-04 )
31 January 2015 (2015-01-31 )
1 year, 58 days
[ 21]
15
Brian Hartzer
31 January 2015 (2015-01-31 )
2 December 2015 (2015-12-02 )
304 days
[ 22]
16
Andrew Thorburn
NAB
2 December 2015 (2015-12-02 )
4 December 2017 (2017-12-04 )
2 years, 2 days
[ 23] [ 24]
17
Shayne Elliott
ANZ
4 December 2017 (2017-12-04 )
2 December 2019 (2019-12-02 )
1 year, 363 days
[ 24] [ 25]
18
Matt Comyn
CBA
3 December 2019 (2019-12-03 )
1 December 2021 (2021-12-01 )
1 year, 363 days
[ 26]
19
Peter King
Westpac
2 December 2021 (2021-12-02 )
8 December 2023 (2023-12-08 )
2 years, 6 days
[ 27]
20
Ross McEwan
NAB
8 December 2023 (2023-12-08 )
2 April 2024 (2024-04-02 )
116 days
[ 28]
21
Andrew Irvine
2 April 2024 (2024-04-02 )
present
1 year, 106 days
[ 29]
Chief executive officers [ edit ]
The following served as chief executive officers of the association:
Order
Officeholder
Title
Term began
Term end
Time in office
Notes
1
Alan Cullen
Chief Executive Officer
1985
September 1995 (1995-09 )
10 years
[ 30] [ 31]
2
Mark Addis
January 1996 (1996-01 )
October 1997 (1997-10 )
0–1 years
[ 31] [ 12]
3
Tony Aveling
October 1997 (1997-10 )
2000
2–3 years
[ 13]
4
Jeff Oughton
Acting Chief Executive Officer
April 2000 (2000-04 )
January 2001 (2001-01 )
275 days
5
David Bell
Chief Executive Officer
January 2001 (2001-01 )
8 March 2010 (2010-03-08 )
9 years, 66 days
6
Steven Münchenberg
8 March 2010 (2010-03-08 )
3 April 2017 (2017-04-03 )
7 years, 26 days
[ 32] [ 33] [ 34]
5
Anna Bligh
17 February 2017 (2017-02-17 )
present
8 years, 105 days
[ 35] [ 36]
^ a b "History" . Australian Banking Association. Retrieved 3 March 2018 .
^ a b "Australian Banking Association Members" . Australian Banking Association . Archived from the original on 10 September 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2020 .
^ "The Australian Banking Association's role" . Australian Banking Association. Retrieved 3 March 2018 .
^ a b "The ABA" . Australian Banking Association . Retrieved 15 September 2020 .
^ "Australian banks shut down internal appeal avenue for unhappy customers" . the Guardian . 3 September 2021. Retrieved 7 September 2021 .
^ "Independent review of the Banking Code of Practice" . JD Supra . Retrieved 7 September 2021 .
^ "COVID-19 Banking Timeline: a financial history of the pandemic" . Australian Banking Association . 6 May 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2020 .
^ Maley, Karen (20 July 1991). "Fowler to Retire Early From Westpac". The Sydney Morning Herald . Fairfax Media .
^ a b "In Brief". Australian Financial Review . Fairfax Media . 2 July 1992.
^ Canu, Sonia (30 November 1994). "Farm Debt Mediation Furore". Australian Financial Review . Fairfax Media .
^ Shield, Helen (17 July 1996). "ANZ's Mercer Says State Taxes Inhibit Bank Growth". Australian Associated Press .
^ a b c Gray, Joanne (24 October 1997). "Westpac exec takes reins at ABA" . Australian Financial Review . Fairfax Media . Retrieved 13 January 2025 .
^ a b c d Khoury, Phil (2006). "The history of Australian Banking: 1991 - 2006" (PDF) . Banking in Australia Today . Australia. p. 24. Retrieved 3 March 2018 .
^ O'Riordan, Ben (19 July 1999). "Clearing the airwaves: Laws on notice as bankers feud" . Australian Financial Review . Fairfax Media . Retrieved 13 January 2025 .
^ "David Murray Elected as New ABA Chairman" (Press release). Australian Bankers' Association. 23 May 2001. Archived from the original on 1 May 2009. Retrieved 13 January 2025 .
^ "John McFarlane Elected as Australian Bankers' Association's New Chairman" (Press release). Australian Bankers' Association. 17 June 2003. Archived from the original on 24 February 2011. Retrieved 13 January 2025 .
^ "David Morgan Elected as Australian Bankers' Associations New Chairman" (Press release). Australian Bankers' Association. 27 June 2005. Archived from the original on 20 September 2009. Retrieved 13 January 2025 .
^ "John Stewart Elected as New Chairman of the Australian Bankers' Association" (Press release). Australian Bankers' Association. 17 July 2007. Archived from the original on 7 October 2009. Retrieved 13 January 2025 .
^ a b Murdoch, Scott (23 November 2011). "Smith takes the helm at ABA, replacing Norris" . The Australian . News Corp Australia . Retrieved 13 January 2025 .
^ "Ralph Norris elected Chairman of the Australian Bankers' Association" (Press release). Australian Bankers' Association. 3 December 2008. Archived from the original on 22 September 2009. Retrieved 13 January 2025 .
^ "Westpac's Group CEO Gail Kelly elected Chairman of the Australian Bankers' Association" (Press release). Australian Bankers' Association. 4 December 2013. Archived from the original on 4 March 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2018 .
^ Eyers, James (10 December 2014). "Westpac CEO Brian Hartzer appointed Australian Bankers' Association chairman" . Australian Financial Review . Australia. Retrieved 3 March 2018 .
^ "NAB CEO new Chairman of the Australian Bankers' Association" (Press release). Australian Bankers' Association. 2 December 2017. Archived from the original on 4 March 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2018 .
^ a b Frost, James (16 October 2017). "Worst-kept secret revealed as ABA names ANZ's Elliott as chair" . Australian Financial Review . Australia. Retrieved 3 March 2018 .
^ Durie, John (4 December 2017). "ANZ's Shayne Elliott steps into banking's hot seat" . The Australian . Retrieved 3 March 2018 .
^ Aston, Joe (10 September 2019). "Comyn Assuming ABA Chair in December" . Australian Financial Review . Australia. Retrieved 10 September 2019 .
^ Gluyas, Richard (23 November 2021). "Peter King set to sit on ABA Throne" . Australian Business Review . Australia. Retrieved 23 November 2021 .
^ "ABA Council appoints Ross McEwan as new Chair" (Press release). Australian Banking Association. 8 December 2023. Archived from the original on 25 February 2024. Retrieved 13 January 2025 .
^ Ross, David (7 February 2024). " 'No moonshot' but new chief eyes growth for NAB" . Australian Financial Review . Fairfax Media . Retrieved 13 January 2025 .
^ Burrell, Steve (3 September 1986). "Deregulate Or Loan Famine Will Stay, Says Bank". The Sydney Morning Herald . Fairfax Media .
^ a b Cornell, Andrew (10 November 1995). "Bankers name new image-maker" . Australian Financial Review . Fairfax Media . Retrieved 13 January 2025 .
^ "NAB's Steven Munchenberg appointed chief executive of Australian Bankers Association" . The Australian . 23 January 2010. Retrieved 3 March 2018 .
^ Shapiro, Jonathan (21 October 2016). "ABA chief executive Steve Münchenberg steps down" . Australian Financial Review . Australia. Retrieved 3 March 2018 .
^ Sier, Jessica (19 February 2017). "Major banks back Anna Bligh for ABA top job" . Australian Financial Review . Australia. Retrieved 3 March 2018 .
^ Silva, Kristian (17 February 2017). "Anna Bligh appointed as first female Australian Bankers' Association CEO" . ABC News . Australia. Retrieved 3 March 2018 .
^ Whyte, Jemina (9 November 2017). "Can Australian Bankers' Association CEO Anna Bligh persuade us to trust banks?" . Australian Financial Review . Australia. Retrieved 3 March 2018 .
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