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
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...
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...
Justice Demands Action - Right Now The finance sector has been shown to be operating in a way that harms customers and citizens in general. Criminals within the system have been allowed to profit from horrific abuses by not only bank CEOs and boards but also ASIC, the Bankers Association - and of course .... the politicians that they pretty much own and control. Everyone is affected - if people can't trust the government and the banks we really are done for. The Banking Royal commission exposed the tip of the iceberg. Now is the time to push for reforms. This article gives you the tools you need to help get results. Political contact information - email addresses, phone & fax numbers. Plus policy positions that will change the finance sector and politics. If you want justice and a better future for your family work with us in an effective and coordinated campaign. It's a numbers game. A politician's main concern is keeping their seat. The aim here is to get MPs and Senators to publicly support policies that will benefit the people and country. Unless they publicly support you with speeches in the Parliament and media interviews they are not serious. We have the power to turf them out. The number of people contacting them determines whether they take an issue seriously or not. Let's make 2019 the year we get justice.	Read More...
Election 2019 Commentary Election surprise. The ALP has a real knack of choosing flawed characters to lead from opposition. Bill Shorten had baggage. The public never warmed to him or trusted him. Rudd's second coming relied on the party locking in the leader. What could go wrong?	Read More...
Australia Is Being Robbed Wolves in sheep's clothing infest our government. Australia and its people are being robbed. Politicians and the major parties are facilitating the theft of our incomes, freedoms, resources and other assets. Farms, businesses, lives - all being stolen. Election 2019 is our opportunity to force new policies onto the agenda. Whoever wins any election must understand that they serve us ... not the party, not the elite and not themselves.	Read More...
ALP and LNP Must Both Be Sacked At Election 2019 The major parties have failed. They have had decades to bring about genuine reforms to decrease corruption and increase the well being of citizens. It is now clear to most that our democracy is being abused. The major parties serve elite and often foreign interests. Dodgy trade deals. Selling off our land and businesses. Seeing housing become unaffordable ..... all signs of something being terribly wrong. It's time to break out of the two party double-cross.	Read More...
Election 2019: Choose Candidates Wisely - The List Election 2019 has some bright and caring people running with minor parties or as independents. The ones listed here support new ideas. They care about our country being sold out and ripped off. They want crooked bankers jailed and their victims compensated. We need good people in government before it's too late. The two party charade has reached its use by date. Let's see them each get less than a 30% primary vote. There are plenty of good alternatives. Election 2019 - It's our turn to win.	Read More...
UK Courts To Expose NAB NAB's previous CEOs Andrew Thorburn and Cameron Clyne have serious questions to answer over the bank's dealing in the UK. Clydesdale and Yorkshire banks have been found to be engaged in dodgy dealings and the Australian head office at the time was up to its neck in it.	Read More...
Election 2019 - The People Must Win ... Not A Party The major parties do not serve the people's interests. Many of us are sick of being lied to and robbed by politicians and the corporations that own them. It's time to unite and demand new ideas for reform and justice. The people have the power. At Election 2019 we really must use it wisely. Politicians don't read emails .... they count them. That's why an avalanche of emails demanding action to end corruption, bring in bank reform and other key policies will have an effect. This action plan has tools including databases of all candidates' - emails / phone numbers / career experience - powerful stuff to help you get a commitment from the candidates.	Read More...
Pollies Just Lying For Your Vote Do you think this time it will be different? How can we be sure that Scott Morrison and Bill Shorten are lying for your vote? Past performance is a good guide. BRN feels the only way to change things is to push independents and minor parties to support good policy. This will put important issues on the agenda. Once this attracts media attention the candidates in the major parties will realise their seats are at risk - there are no safe seats now. They and their parties too will then have to look at new ideas and policies. Voters are crying out for something different. The LNP and ALP will be struggling for a 30% primary vote. Voters have their boots and baseball bats ready. Election 2019 is our big chance for big opportunities.	Read More...
Step 3 - SUMIR - Triphasic Citizenship Dividend If properly implemented the three step SUMIR program would end poverty. Every person deserves a fair go to build a good life. Step 3 - The Triphasic Citizenship Dividend is the payoff. Pollies that support the elite can easily be identified - they will reject meaningful reform. They prefer business as usual - selling out the people and their country. At Election 2019 Aussies can go for bold. We are identifying candidates right now that support the SUMIR movement. Join in and end the age of exploitation.	Read More...
Step 1 - SUMIR - Sovereign Wealth Fund Many nations have a Sovereign Wealth Fund. There is no reason Australia can't have one which serves the nation's interests. Here we describe how it would look and how it would be funded. Including the repatriation of wealth stolen from the people by criminals aided and abetted by corrupt politicians. The problems allowing the theft to occur are systemic & structural and therefore so are the solutions.	Read More...
Step 2 - SUMIR - Sovereign Monetary System Australia used to have a national bank - the Commonwealth Bank. It was the people's bank designed to serve the nation's interests. It was stolen ... and it was an inside job. People are beginning to realise that having a criminal cartel controlling money and politics might not be such a good idea. Time for a dose of structural reform before it's too late. It's not just money at risk - it's freedom and lives.	Read More...
Journalism Versus the Big Banks Adele Ferguson is one of the champions of the bank warriors. Without her gutsy investigative journalism it is quite likely that there would not have been a Royal Commission into banking. Bank Warriors support her call for a new Royal Commission into APRA and ASIC.	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...
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
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...
Banks Using Smoke and Mirrors Again It's pretty hard to trust Anna Bligh and the Australian Banking Association when you consider the history of banking in Australia since the first Code of Conduct came into existence in 1993. The Soviet Union had possibly the finest documentation protecting the Human Rights of its citizens. Words on paper don't cut it..!! The system must be structured to serve the people's legitimate needs and interests. The Banking Codes have always served the interests of the banks. The new code is no different. But don't worry folks ...... there is light at the end of this long and torturous tunnel.	Read More...
Westpac Scandal About To Blow Dr Evan Jones has recently commented on several cases Bank Reform Now has been assisting with. The Hayes and Uebergang cases raise very serious issues for Westpac. CEO Brian Hartzer wasn't at the bank when these issues surfaced but he can read. When Westpac was on the edge of collapse drastic measures were part of the rescue response. It's all been detailed in Hansard and then Senator Paul McLean's book Bankers And Bastards. The Westpac Letters scandal showed how the bank's board and their lawyers operated. We know they broke the law. We know they destroyed lives and businesses. Colin Uebergang suffered as a direct result. It's not good enough to pretend the bankers were saints in the 90s. We all now know the truth.	Read More...
Appalling Banking Will Be Fully Exposed AFCA Chair Helen Coonan says community trust in the finance sector had been "shattered", with financial institutions causing "despair and hopelessness in many broken lives and broken businesses." If a key part of the economy profits from this type of crooked dealing with customers something is terribly wrong. If we have to remove one CEO after another so be it. Our sense of justice has not been tempered .... it's been honed razor sharp and it will be used to remove recalcitrant bankers, regulators and politicians. Justice has been delayed ..... it will not be denied and it will be sweet. The Australian Financial Complaints Authority is making the right noises BUT it has built in limitations. Just like the Banking Code of Conduct and the Code Compliance monitoring apparatus it is rigged in favour of bankers. Victims of bank crimes have the deck stacked against them BUT Helen Coonan will serve a purpose that could help victims despite her hands being tied behind her back.	Read More...
Hayne Hamstrung From The Start Nationals MP Barry O’Sullivan triggered the Royal Commission being called by Turnbull and Morrison but no politician was responsible. Bank reform was on the agenda thanks to brave whistleblowers and gutsy journalists like Jeff Morris and Adele Ferguson. Victims of bank misconduct and activists worked on the push to reform using everything they had. Social media, mainstream media and political contacts were worked tirelessly. The bankers saw what was coming and decided to put their inquiry up with their terms and their commissioner by using their Prime Minister and their Treasurer. Even though the Royal Commission was hobbled from the start it did serve a purpose... and everyone very well knows it covered up more than it exposed. This is an excerpt from Michael Roddan's book The People vs The Banks. The battle is still being waged and the people will win the war.	Read More...
Senate Inquiry Misses The Point The Hayne RC and the Senate Access To Justice inquiry have dropped the ball. The only way banks can engage with clients in the heavy handed, deceptive, unconscionable and often criminal way that they do is thanks to a "justice" system that enables and allows them to get away with serious abuses. Any other business or individual that treated clients in the way the banks regularly do would see perpetrators fined and jailed. Yes - the abuses we have researched are that serious. Politicians and multiple inquires have been informed. So clearly the other protection required by banks is political. Therefore until people take political action to reform the system nothing will be achieved. Election 2019 is the time to take action. Here we look at the weak recommendations from the Senate Access to Justice inquiry with contributions from the BRN Advisory Panel.	Read More...