Recent News & Articles

Press Releases

Press releases are issued from time to time to alert the media and the public about breaking news and stories from Bank Reform Now.
News / Article Summary	Go To Article
Election 2022 - Stop the machines Both major parties serve elite interests ..... and always will. This election is the most important ever because it might just be our last chance to stop politicians and their party machines turning Australia into a dystopian, cashless, authoritarian, technocratic, totalitarian police/surveillance state. Are you sick of the games, lies and systemic corruption that infests two party politics here and in other nations? Politicians who are stuck in the old ways of – vote buying – tax & spend sleight of hand manipulations – phony policies & promises – corrupt deal making with corporate donors – us versus them divisive politics – are just tinkering around the edges. Real reform requires bold, innovative and new thinking. Before you vote for any politician check if they support the BRN policy prescription. The ALP and LNP will be lucky to get more than a 25% primary vote this year. Take care and make sure the independents and minor party candidates you support are fair dinkum. Here is what you'll likely want them to commit to.	Read More...
The Freedom Budget For your consideration - a worldwide crisis deserved a budget of serious reform. A cashless authoritarian surveillance state is being set up in front of our eyes. There is no conspiracy. It's in the open now. It's time to take a stand. Here is the budget that could have been produced by a government wanting to really stop the coming depression and save the people's livelihoods, freedoms and rights. Who do the "elected" leaders of most nations really work for?	Read More...
No More War War is a crime against humanity. On the 75th Anniversary of the end of WW2 it is worth thinking about what we have allowed the rulers to do to fundamental freedoms and rights. We are very much still living in a war economy. If the money used for war was invested in peace there would be no need for chaos and war. Follow the money and it is very easy to see how the people of the world have been robbed, lied to and abused by the 0.1%.	Read More...
Business Hibernation to stop COVID-19 chaos Morrison must lead effectively to save Australia from a massive health and economic crisis. Innovative policies such as the Business Hibernation will help. He must not play into the hands of vested interests that profit from Australian business collapses and rising, impossible to repay debt. The country is in grave danger if the wrong policies are put in place now. Who are the people and organisations advising Morrison? Once we know we can work out whose interests the policy prescriptions really serve. No-one needs to go hungry, homeless or bankrupt if the crisis is handled well and compassionately.	Read More...
Pollies Will Pay For Cash Ban It's time to kill the CASH BAN Bill. Many pollies are too thick to realise the full story about caving into banker demands to kill off cash. Aussies want to live in freedom. Rights have been destroyed by pollies for decades - the Cash Ban is the final straw. Attacks on journalists & whistleblowers. Surveillance state & other attacks on privacy. Corrupt donations to parties. Unaffordable housing. Cost of living pressures. These are all signs of Australia going off the rails. Enough..!! Get active and put pollies in their place. They serve us .... not the bankers. This article explains the danger and government lies .... plus gives you some downloads to help you contact MPs and Senators.	Read More...
The Takedown Of Australia In a country as wealthy as Australia why are we seeing such horrific suicide figures - particularly amongst farmers, veterans and our young? Why are so many struggling with cost of living pressures - particularly housing? We are seeing such hardships because our economic system is structured to CRIMINALLY extract as much wealth as possible from the people and their country. Australians have noticed a gradual loss of core freedoms and rights as well as an attack on the nation's sovereignty. This is a worldwide phenomenon and it stems from a battle between competing criminal cartels using politics and finance as a weapon of abuse, exploitation and control. Try this thought experiment - think of Australia as a town run by an organised crime ring. AND then see what has happened to Australia - all is not as rosy as pollies and bankers told us for the last 30 years - especially before elections.	Read More...
Stand - Unite - Make It Right. The Launch Election 2019 is our chance to show we are not falling for the two party run around again. Both major parties serve the elite. Both parties have had decades to make a big difference in bringing about a fair go for most of us. Right now most of us are sick of the games, lies and systemic corruption that infests two party politics here and in other nations. Politicians who are stuck in the old ways of – vote buying – tax & spend sleight of hand manipulations – phony policies & promises – corrupt deal making with corporate donors – us versus them divisive politics – are just tinkering around the edges. Real reform requires bold, innovative and new thinking. That is what BRN's SUMIR program offers.	Read More...
Hayne Covers Up More Than He Reveals Commissioner Hayne took on a role that deliberately limited his chances of successfully exposing the serious misconduct and crimes bankers are engaging in and profiting from. While there are some good suggestions for reforms in his report - he is really tinkering around the edges. While many in the media are keen to analyse what he has come up with - the real story is what he didn't look at. Here we present some opinions re: his work but we also are keen to consider the areas that were not properly investigated ... or ignored. There is more work to do if Australians want a finance system that exists to serve their interests. That is a very different beast to the one that Hayne has been investigating.	Read More...
Emperors Stripped By RC's Rowena Orr BRN and the merry bank warriors came to Sydney for Round 7 of the Hayne Banking Royal Commission. CBA, Westpac and ASIC were in the dock. QC Rowena Orr stripped the Emperors of finance bare. It was painful. How do these characters even think they deserve to be paid multi million dollar salaries? Scandals, incompetence, chicanery, greed, deception all laid out forensically by the brilliant Counsel Assisting Rowena Orr. There is a cancer in our finance sector and it is killing our country. We need people like Ms Orr to cut it out. We cannot be free until the disease is cured. The Royal Commission needs to be longer and stronger. There are other players in the sector - including ex-CEOs - that require Ms Orr's healing touch and attention.	Read More...
America Loses 2020 Election Who thinks it makes much difference which party wins an election? Here we expose the harsh truth .... it's not a pretty picture but unless you know about the powers that run the show you'll keep hoping that your vote will make a difference in four years time. A two party structure gives the illusion of choice only. Real change comes with policies that returns power to the people.	Read More...
Perpetual AGM 2020 Perpetual performs better than others so far during the 2020 virtual AGM season but still leaves some important questions unanswered. A great effort and report from our warriors Rita Mazalevskis & Craig Caulfield.	Read More...
Crown AGM 2020 - What A Gamble Crown's board wasn't held accountable because the 2020 virtual AGM enabled the company to dodge the hard questions. A great report from Rita Mazalevskis	Read More...
CBA AGM 2020 - A Classic Coverup Craig Caulfield and the bank warriors keep up the pressure despite COVID restrictions. A proper Virtual AGM would allow shareholders to ask any appropriate question desired. There is no excuse for banks to filter and censor the discussion. The AGM is the best opportunity to point out bank problems. The bank boards and senior executives must be held accountable in a transparent fashion. Public scrutiny is essential to bring about reforms that will make the banks operate ethically and honestly. A great report from Craig and the team. See the questions CBA did not want discussed. It's an eyeopener.	Read More...
Securitisation Scam Exposed Some great research from Leon Ashby and the team on how the banks are double dipping to rip off clients after mortgages are bundled and sold. We knew it was bad but this just stinks.	Read More...
The Ultimate Revolution The author of Brave New World showed us how authoritarians of the future would use science and technology to control the masses. Propaganda, mind control and some well planned (and timed) terrorism does the trick. And by 2020 the tools have been well & truly researched and perfected.	Read More...
Deceitful Secret Revealed A very special guest editorial from three titians in the battle for bank reform. Why didn’t the Royal Commission into Banking address the serious issues of securitization and its high risks when this was raised in many submissions? Why do our Courts fail us so miserably with ridiculously unjust decisions when a Bank is involved? Why do governments allow these deceptive bank business practices? This article explains how the banks take advantage of their customers.	Read More...
Switch The Hit Aussies have done well limiting the spread of the virus. Had Prime Minister Morrison acted a bit earlier on closing the border and putting in place an effective business hibernation we could have begun ending the partial shutdown in six to eight weeks - perhaps sooner in some regions. Decisions and timing matter .... big time. The COVID-19 virus crisis brings a great opportunity for long overdue reforms that will transform and improve the lives of every Australian. BUT it all depends on whether our government puts the interests of the elite ahead of our interests. Right now the government is looking at Aussie families and small businesses taking a hit. Bank Reform Now says ...... SWITCH THE HIT..!!	Read More...
It's Crunch Time - Freedom or Slavery? Australia faces a crisis possibly much worse than the Great Depression. We can only survive it by working together with a Prime Minister (and other political leaders) that are brave, honest and intelligent. Now is the time for the nation's leadership to level with us. What is the truth about the way our laws, economy and society are structured? The following questions demand an honest response from Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese. The COVID-19 crisis will see the elite increase our debt and steal more of our country's wealth. The choice boils down to ..... Freedom or Slavery?	Read More...
Virus Crisis - Act NOW We have put together a set of suggested policies that could help Australia survive and thrive during and after the COVID-19 virus crisis. It is a modified shutdown with powerful protections - including a business hibernation program - to stop bankruptcies and home losses. We have put it into the form of the sort of speech we would have liked to see from the Prime Minister a few days ago. What do you think? No-one needs to go hungry, homeless or bankrupt if the crisis is handled well and compassionately.	Read More...
Morrison Is Finished At certain times a nation's leader may have to handle a crisis. It is only then that you discover if a leader is made of the right stuff. Morrison is not a leader. Australia's fire crisis has proven that. Here we explain how he stuffed up and why he will step down well before the next election.	Read More...
Senate Refuses To Publish Cash Ban Submissions The government is playing dirty to try and ram through the Cash Ban Bill. The Senate refused publication of thousands of submissions including the one from Bank Reform Now. We publish it here and encourage you to get active. Albanese and his ALP also want to ban cash. The only way we can stop the Bill is to force Scott Morrison to scrap it. We need to split the Liberal and National parties. Some of their members are opposed to it and the Victorian State branch voted against it recently. Time to take a stand against pollies working in the interests of foreign powers and organisations.	Read More...
Liberal Party In Name Only For decades it's been very hard to tell the major parties apart. They have both presided over: the trampling of freedoms and rights; Australia being sold off; the gradual destruction of the nation's sovereignty; and of course - the loss of respect for politicians and the institutions that are supposed to work in the people's interests. Here we come to the realisation that the Liberal Party has no interest in fundamental freedoms. We lay bare their hypocrisy and lies. It's not a pretty sight. Two things must be done by LNP politicians that are not happy with the party's lurch toward authoritarianism. They must get Morrison to axe the Cash Ban Bill and they must see to it that the Speaker of the House changes the rules to allow peaceful protest inside Parliament House.	Read More...
Financial Crimes No Longer Tolerable This is a classic "truth to power" move from John Telford (VOFF) to Tim Wilson - Chair of the House Economics Committee. There have been too many financial scandals that have hurt hard working people who are saving for their retirement. It is no longer acceptable and if the government doesn't respond to reasoned discussion and peaceful protest then they will be held accountable. White collar criminals must be stripped of their assets and jailed. Victims of the Trio fraud are owed justice as are many others who have suffered from corporate criminals being allowed to get away with crimes by weak and compliant politicians. The House Economics Committee - and indeed Josh Frydenberg - should now be insisting that banks claw back pay and bonuses ........ and "golden handshakes."	Read More...
Protest Or Perish BRN CEO threatened with eviction from Parliament House .... for wearing a T-Shirt. Is this what has become of Australia? Have we forgotten about cherished rights and freedoms? Will the Speaker of the House Tony Smith adjust the rules regarding protest? If people can't protest peacefully what are their alternatives? While NAB's CEO Phil Chronican was in the dock at the House Economics Committee someone complained about a T-Shirt. This is what happened next ....	Read More...
Bank AGM Campaign Ramps Up - 2019 Schedule How do you reform the banks? You go behind enemy lines and attack head on with our most powerful weapon .... THE TRUTH..!! You present evidence, logic and facts. By working hard and smart you might just become unbeatable. The truth always wins in the end .... unfortunately for too many people it has taken way too long. The bank warrior AGM campaign is growing stronger and continues this year. Here is the 2019 schedule. After the events we will also add links to Video Highlights. Check the People Power - Bank AGMs - Round 1 link to see what was achieved last year.	Read More...
Frydenberg Breaks The Code The Australian Banking Association released its new Code of Banking Practice on the 1st of July. This letter was to be sent to Treasurer Frydenberg a few days later but we decided to hang onto it while we monitored ASIC, Treasury and the banks. We have now sent this to the Treasurer and publish it here today because very soon the Senate will vote on a motion to disallow the new Code. Every Senator must vote to axe the code ..... here's why.......	Read More...

BRN In The Media

Collection of articles, stories and multi-media presentations about Bank Reform Now.
News / Article Summary	Go To Article
Jeff Kennett Dumped By NAB Victims NAB "experiment" fails as bank's victims pull the pin on ex-Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett's role as a mediator. NAB CEO Andrew Thorburn thought it was a good idea at the time. Victims had their doubts but gave the process the benefit of the doubt. Before the Kennett determinations were made the nature of the negotiations had become clear. In a near unanimous decision the victims chose to revert back to dealing directly with NAB executives who have a much better understanding regarding the deep - inner workings of their bank. A great review of the situation from champion journalist Joyce Moullakis - The Australian.	Read More...
Ken Henry Drops The Ball on Q&A BRN CEO Nabs Ken Henry with a simple question on ABC's Q&A Ethics, Accountability and Leadership episode - 26.10.20. He didn't quite get it. Here you can see the video excerpt of Ken's attempt plus an in-depth translation of what Ken was grappling with. Kudos to the Q&A team for highlighting a very important topic. This is gold. Trust, ethics, democracy, hypocrisy, Kakistocracy .... it's all here - along with just a touch of BRN sarcasm. We couldn't resist .... Enjoy.	Read More...
Justice Not Being Delivered Post Hayne RC The delay, deny, deceive routine has had its day. It's now twelve months since Commissioner Hayne put out his final report on the Banking Royal Commission. It's no secret that banks behave badly. The secret is that despite all the revelations many bankers are still trying to mess with the minds of victims and avoid paying proper compensation. The game playing days are also over. Victims are giving their banks accurate, helpful and informative material and the staffers involved just can't handle it so they ignore it or respond inappropriately. What are they thinking? That we'll forget about it? That we'll give up and go away? That we'll take a token offering to shut up? This article from The Australian's Joyce Moullakis highlights the types of cases that the Royal Commission deliberately ignored. How long before the banks start treating their customers with respect? The delays in settling the some of the most serious legacy cases is now beyond outrageous.	Read More...
Sorry - Talk Is Cheap "Sorry" didn't cut it at Westpac's 2019 AGM. Shareholders grilled and heckled Westpac chairman Lindsay Maxsted for more than six hours at the AGM, putting the board on notice that further accountability will be sought. The AGM came just weeks after the financial crimes regulator Austrac launched legal action in the Federal Court against the bank, alleging 23 million breaches of anti-money laundering laws, including links to payments funding child exploitation. A beaut report from Joyce Moullakis & Richard Gluyas.	Read More...
Westpac Didn't Learn From CBA Scandal Something doesn't add up with Westpac's performance leading up to the Austrac scandal and it's not looking too good after a traumatic AGM. The Australian's Joyce Moullakis reports.	Read More...
Warriors Storm Westpac AGM It was a very angry group of shareholders that pointed out the Westpac boards gross shortcomings at the 2019 AGM. Nothing like this has been seen since the Foreign Currency Loan / Westpac letters scandal in the early '90s. The bank's lawyers were up to their necks in crooked and unethical conduct then and as far as we can see bank lawyers feel they can get away with anything even now.	Read More...
Banks Too Slow To Compensate Victims Questions need to be asked about the state of Australia's banking system. Clearly there is something very wrong when billions of dollars are being set aside to remediate clients who have been ripped off one way or another. The banking model is flawed. It is not designed to provide a meaningful service to customers. Banking is taking far too much of the county's wealth to benefit international elite interests. This powerful article from The Australian's Joyce Moullakis is well worth a read. It will trigger thoughts regarding the nature of the banks' commitment to remediation. A lot of money has been set aside - but how much will actually end up in customers' pockets?	Read More...

Banking News

Find the latest news and stories about banks caught out in illegal and corrupt activity from around the world.
News / Article Summary	Go To Article
Vale Russell Cousins Russell Cousins passed away on Wednesday the 20th of May 2020. Condolences to his wife Colleen and to their family. He fought for justice right to the end. Russ was a one of a kind giant who felt the injustice of corporate greed. He went into battle not just to bring justice to his family but to as many other victims of financial system crimes and misconduct as possible. We will miss Russ Cousins but he leaves a legacy that bank warriors will carry forward.	Read More...
The Sins of Westpac An essential in-depth analysis of Westpac bank's dark past. Dr Evan Jones shines a light on legacy cases that multiple Westpac CEOs have refused to properly deal with. It's all here - the Westpac Letters - the Foreign Currency Loan Scandal - Westpac and the Royal Commission. Victims of bank crimes and coverups deserve to be heard and compensated. No bank can get away with the old deny, delay, deceive routine any longer. Have a look what happened to Colin Uebergang, Patrick Hayes, Peter Casaceli and others. Maybe Westpac could claw back some of the bonuses paid to Gail Kelly and Brian Hartzer to assist with the remediation program.	Read More...
Clydesdale Duo Set For Sydney Showdown With NAB Our UK brother bank warriors Ian Lightbody and John Guidi are flying into Sydney for NAB's AGM on 18.12.19. Banks should have realised by now that activists are united around the country and around the world. The old delay, deny, deceive routine just doesn't work anymore. Victims of predatory banking know exactly what was done to them, how it was done, who profited from the misconduct and who is covering it up. Brave whistleblowers and gutsy journalists are assisting the path to justice and remediation. The bank business model is flawed. What happened in the UK also happened in Australia. If the boards of these banks didn't know what was going on they were either incompetent or negligent. If they were neither they are complicit and culpable. Either way directors are in an untenable situation.	Read More...
Villains Of Banking Must Be Brought Down When BRN first formed one of our first claims was that banking was "organised crime on a grand scale." This article is so perfect it is a must read. Banks really are run and organised by lawbreaking supervillains. We need powerful superheroes to bring them to justice. Apart from all the activists, whistleblowers and journalists that are doing a great job exposing crimes - the regulators have now been embarrassed into action after decades of the light touch "see no evil" approach. Yes - a bank's licence to operate should be on the line for criminal breaches and serious misconduct. BRN's SUMIR program has called for a Sovereign Monetary system that functions in the interests of the country and its people. Other countries of the world will need to do the same. Australia is now positioned to set the example and do this. A National Bank is a big stepping stone. Westpac cannot afford the fines it will incur from the latest scandal. Scott Morrison has made it clear he wants to crackdown on criminal transactions. Unfortunately his target was dead wrong. Ordinary citizens are the target of his Cash Ban Bill. How dare Morrison and his government force us to be at the mercy of these criminal organisations! The real targets should be the bankers and other white collar criminals that snub their noses at the law .... and use electronic transactions to do it. Will Morrison use Westpac or another big bank to establish our National Bank? Economist Richard Denniss says - "The scrutiny of the big four should not stop until their staggering, systemic breaches of the law do." We agree.	Read More...
The Buck Always Stops With The CEO and Board Westpac needs to show the community it has taken clear accountability. Brian Hartzer's tenure will come under pressure, but the board also has questions to answer.	Read More...
Warriors Fire Up Bendigo Bank AGM Bank warriors did all of us proud at the Bendigo Bank AGM. Critical issues are being put on the table in public by activists that are not tolerating the way banks have done business in the past. This is how we get reform. Board members must realise that cover-ups and deception are no longer an effective way to run a business. Great work from Craig Caulfield and the team that attended - see this great summary and some video highlights right here.	Read More...
Perpetual Indifference Crucified Son Of Aussie War Hero A very sad story. The ill son of war hero "Weary" Dunlop ripped off by finance sector parasites ... and no-one in a position to help the family will take responsibility. Thanks to bank warrior Boyd Fraser the relatives of now deceased Alexander Dunlop have a chance to see justice. Boyd has his own battle with Perpetual and he's not going down without a fight and while he's at it he wants to help other victims too. This is an amazing case showing just how dodgy some characters are in the "business" world.	Read More...