In Australia, the banking system is well-developed and very complex. This is a short summary of some aspects of the law relevant to consumers.

Banks, credit unions and other financial institutions are authorised to carry on business as deposit-takers under section 9 of the Banking Act 1959 (Cth). Authorised deposit taking institutions are known as ADIs throughout the legislation.

Banks act as deposit takers (savings or transaction accounts) or as lenders providing services to either individual consumers or businesses. Banks also may offer ancillary services such as safe deposit for valuable items, and may also act as brokers for insurance or financial planning.

Credit unions, mutual banks and building societies are owned by their members, and are not run for profit. Publicly listed banks are owned by shareholders and run for profit.

Consumers borrowing money from lenders including banks are covered by the provisions of the National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009 (Cth) (the NCCPA) and the National Credit Code, which is Schedule 2 to the NCCPA.

Most but not all Australian banks are subscribers to the Banking Code of Practice, which can be accessed from the Australian Banking Association website. A new version of the Code commenced on 1 March 2021. Earlier versions of the Code can also be accessed from the Australian Banking Association website.

The Banking Code of Practice should be read in conjunction with the Australian Banking Association (ABA) industry guidelines. The guidelines outline policies and practices that banks should have in place to support customers impacted by family violence and/or financial abuse. The ABA has developed two guides relating to financial abuse, Preventing and Responding to Financial Abuse (Including Elder Abuse) and Preventing and Responding to Family and Domestic Violence (FDV) [links open in a new window].The first focuses broadly on financial abuse of customers, which may be by family members or others. The second focuses on family and domestic violence, particularly intimate partner abuse. Both guides were updated in April 2021.

Credit unions, building societies and mutual banks may subscribe to the Customer Owned Banking Code of Practice.

Both Codes of Practice set standards of good industry practice for banks (both ADIs and customer owned) in relation to their customers and are incorporated into the contract between the bank and the customer. Compliance with each Code is monitored by independent committees for each Code.