The Latest Breaking News from Westpac

Interest rate pause still months away, economists warn

Despite a softening of language from the RBA, economists are still tipping another rate rise when the central bank next meets.

The New Daily · Mar 13, 2023

Banks continue to drag their feet lifting savings account rates

Banks defy political pressure by not passing on higher interest rates to all savers even as they hit mortgage holders with rapid-fire hikes

The New Daily · Mar 10, 2023

Some savers still being left behind as cash rate lifts

Banks are still picking and choosing which deposit accounts to lift rates on despite pressure from the consumer watchdog to pass higher rates on to savers.

AAP · Mar 10, 2023

Pressure on Labor over tax cuts, amid broad support for super hikes

Pressure is mounting on the federal government over tax cuts, amid support for super changes and ahead of another interest rate rise.

The New Daily · Mar 6, 2023

Bank closures hurt communities, Westpac admits to probe

Westpac and NAB executives are facing the regional banking inquiry, which is examining the impact of branch closures in country towns.

The New Daily · Mar 2, 2023

A third of the nation's bank branches have shut in the past five years — for people in the country, that's a huge problem

Despite soaring profits for Australia's big four banks, that number in the billions, almost one-in-three of their branches have closed in the past five years and now a parliamentary committee is examining the impact of those closures, especially on regional centres.

ABC News · Mar 1, 2023

Cost of cash worth every penny in bush, bank probe told

Cash and face-to-face transactions are central to the social fabric in rural communities, a Senate inquiry examining regional bank closures has been told.

AAP · Mar 1, 2023

House price falls ease in February with Sydney posting a rise as real estate listings dry up

A lack of properties for sale and the first rise in Sydney home prices in more than a year stabilise real estate values across the nation. But for how long?

ABC News · Feb 28, 2023

The Australian towns where the nearest bank branch is nearly 1,000km away

With nearly 100 regional branches either closed or soon to close, getting to the bank is becoming increasingly difficult for Australians in remote areas

The Guardian - AU · Feb 28, 2023

Regional bank closures have SA locals buying safes, scared for safety as MP calls for banks to do 'right thing'

The outback town is an opal-mining mecca, with large sums of money often exchanged in cash. But Coober Pedy's only bank closed for good last week — too late to be saved by a Senate inquiry into regional bank closures.

ABC News · Feb 21, 2023