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| Formerly | Rural and Industries Bank Agricultural Bank of Western Australia |
|---|---|
| Company type | Subsidiary |
| Industry | Financial services |
| Founded | 1895 |
| Headquarters | Bankwest Place, Perth, Western Australia |
Area served | Australia |
Key people | Jason Chan, Executive General Manager |
| Products | Home loans Transaction accounts Savings accounts Term deposits Credit cards |
| Parent | Commonwealth Bank |
| Website | www |
Bankwest is an Australianbank based inPerth, Western Australia. It was founded as theAgricultural Bank of Western Australia in 1895 by theGovernment of Western Australia being renamed theRural and Industries Bank in 1944, and Bankwest in 1994 before being privatised. After a period of being alisted company on theAustralian Securities Exchange, it was taken over by theBank of Scotland, and since 2008 has been a subsidiary of theCommonwealth Bank.
Having expanded into theEastern states in the 1980s, it closed the last of these branches in October 2022. The remaining 60 branches in Western Australia were all closed by the end of 2024 with 15 of them being converted to Commonwealth Bank branches. Bankwest then became anonline bank only.
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In 1895, theGovernment of Western Australia established the Agricultural Bank of Western Australia as a rural lender to support the state's farming industries.[1] Despite its name, it was not a bank, as it did not acceptdeposits from the public, its liabilities beinggovernment bonds. It was a government instrumentality that lent exclusively to farmers.[2][3]
On 1 October 1945 pursuant to theRural and Industries Bank Act 1944, the Agricultural Bank changed its name to the Rural and Industries Bank of Western Australia becoming a full trading bank.[4][5] This enabled it to expand its retail and commercial banking services throughout the state. Its headquarters were at the former Agricultural Bank headquarters at 555Hay Street, Perth.[3][6]
In 1956 it became asavings bank.[7] In March 1961, its headquarters moved to a purpose building inBarrack Street. In 1973, a 45% shareholding in Perpetual Finance Corporation was purchased increasing to 100% in 1978. A major shareholding in the Town & Country Permanent Building Society was also purchased in 1973.[3]
In 1985, the first interstate branch was opened inSydney.[2] In June 1987, the Primary Industry Bank of Australia became a subsidiary.[8] In August 1987, theTeachers' Credit Society was taken over in abailout.[9][10] In 1988, the headquarters moved to108 St Georges Terrace, which was the tallest building in Perth at the time.[3]
The bank was incorporated in 1990, and in 1994 changed its name to the Bank of Western Australia with the trading name Bankwest, in preparation for privatisation.[11] In December 1995, theBank of Scotland acquired the bank, and as part of the sale agreement, offered 49 per cent of the shares in Bankwest to the public.[12][13] Bankwest was listed on theAustralian Securities Exchange (ASX) on 1 February 1996.
In May 2001, Bank of Scotland merged withHalifax to formHBOS.[14] In August 2003, HBOS completed a successfultakeover offer for the shares it did not own with Bankwest delisted from the ASX.[15][16]
In 2003, Bankwest acquired API Finance fromAustralian Pharmaceutical Industries for $300 million in line with its industry specialisation growth strategy in the business banking segment.[17]
In October 2006, Bankwest announced it would move its headquarters from 108 St Georges Terrace to 300Murray Street.[18][19] After lengthy delays, the move occurred in September 2012.[20] Bankwest's lease expires in 2031.[21]
In September 2008, Bankwest was included in the sale of HBOS toLloyds TSB.[22] The following month, with significant problems of its own during the2008 financial crisis, Lloyds TSB agreed terms to sell Bankwest to theCommonwealth Bank for $2.1 billion.[23][24] The sale was completed in December 2008.[25][26]
Bankwest's business banking operation was closed and its customers moved to the Commonwealth Bank, sparking asenate inquiry.[27]
In February 2022, Bankwest announced it would stop offering business products and services and eventually shift existing business customers to the Commonwealth Bank.[28]
In July 2018, Bankwest announced plans to close 29 branches inNew South Wales,Victoria andQueensland citing that an overwhelming number of its customers were choosing to bank online.[29] In October 2022, Bankwest closed all its east coast branches.[30]
In March 2024, Bankwest announced that it will close all remaining 60 branches andautomated teller machines (ATMs) by the end of 2024 and become adigital bank.[31][needs update][30][needs update] Fifteen regional branches will be converted to Commonwealth Bank branches and 45 closed.[30][31][32] Cash transactions will be available via other banks' ATMs andAustralia Post.[30][33]
Bankwest wasnaming rights sponsor of theFremantle Football Club in2004 and2005.[34]
In 2018, Bankwest signed a seven-year contract to be the naming rights sponsor ofWestern Sydney Stadium.[35] However, after only three years, the contract was taken over by the Commonwealth Bank and the stadium rebranded CommBank Stadium.[36]
Media related toBankWest at Wikimedia Commons
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