Bank of Australia Stories

Australian Stories

Bank of Australia stories

Commonwealth Bank tests AI companion in banking app

The trial could make everyday banking decisions clearer for millions of app users, while keeping human oversight and fraud controls in place.

By Mark Tarre • 5 min read • Last week

Digital Transformation

Altman says businesses lag AI adoption amid rapid change

Businesses face pressure to speed up AI rollouts as OpenAI chief Sam Altman says enterprise adoption remains very early.

By Mark Tarre • 6 min read • Last week

Inflation

TermPlus expands fixed-term accounts for SMSF investors

SMSF trustees hunting income are being offered higher target returns as TermPlus taps stronger demand for fixed-term private credit accounts.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Last week

Fintech

ASIC says Australia primed for fintech & regtech growth

Australia's financial regulator sees artificial intelligence and easier rules helping startups turn a strong funding base into faster growth.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Last week

Manufacturing

Australia's late business payments hit six-year high

Cash-flow strain is deepening as overdue invoices and tax debts rise, with smaller firms hardest hit by higher rates and costs.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 6 min read • Last month

Fintech

Australia tests tokenised finance in Project Acacia

Settlement could become faster and cheaper for wholesale markets, but regulators say tokenised finance still needs new rules and infrastructure.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Last month

Robotics

CommBank appoints first Chief AI Scientist in Australia

The appointment underscores the lender's push to scale responsible AI as banks race to recruit academic talent and manage security and governance risks.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • Last month

Labour Party

Budget tax changes spare RBA inflation, says economist

Relief for the Reserve Bank comes as the federal budget avoids fresh cost-of-living handouts, while tightening tax breaks for higher earners.

By Sean Mitchell • 5 min read • Last month

Artificial Intelligence

Australia business confidence stays weak as costs rise

Rising fuel and energy bills are squeezing margins and leaving Australian firms facing weaker trading conditions ahead.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • Last month

Supply Chain

Fuel prices & rates reshape Australia's construction

Higher fuel and borrowing costs are starting to squeeze builders, with insolvencies likely to rise if Strait of Hormuz disruptions persist.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • Last month

Partner Programmes

Australian small business sales rise 7.2% in Q1 2026

Momentum stayed firm for Australian small businesses in the March quarter, as sales, jobs and wages all rose despite higher fuel costs.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Last month

Power / Energy

Australian inflation eases, but RBA tightening looms

Fuel costs have pushed headline prices higher again, leaving the Reserve Bank of Australia under pressure to raise interest rates despite softer underlying inflation.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Wed, 29th Apr 2026

Data Protection

CommBank deploys AI to spot emerging fraud patterns

The bank’s defences may move faster as the system is meant to spot new scam patterns and turn them into blocking rules more quickly.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 3 min read • Fri, 24th Apr 2026

Risk & Compliance

CommBank barometer shows high FX hedging among firms

Geopolitical turmoil has pushed Australian firms to lock in currency cover, with exporters hedging 86 per cent of exposure and importers 80 per cent.

By Shannon Williams • 3 min read • Thu, 23rd Apr 2026

Data Protection

Persona integrates ConnectID for privacy-first age checks

Australian platforms facing tougher age-check rules can now verify users through bank data, without collecting passports or licences.

By Sean Mitchell • 3 min read • Wed, 22nd Apr 2026

Digital Transformation

PayNuts broadens offer for SMEs as surcharging reforms loom

A tougher fee regime is pushing the payments firm to offer SMEs more services, from POS and broadband to bookkeeping, beyond EFTPOS.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Tue, 21st Apr 2026

Partner Programmes

Australian confidence drops as fuel costs hit sentiment

Households and firms are facing renewed cost-of-living pressure, with petrol prices driving sentiment to levels last seen during the GFC and pandemic.

By Sean Mitchell • 5 min read • Tue, 14th Apr 2026