Australia unveils sweeping banking reforms

12 December 2010 - 06H46

A customer uses an ATM in Sydney. Australia unveiled tough changes to finance laws Sunday, banning unpopular mortgage fees and cracking down on price collusion between major banks in a bid to boost competition in the sector.

People are reflected in the glass awning of an ANZ bank branch in Sydney. Australia's Treasurer Wayne Swan has slammed the country's "big four" banks - ANZ, Westpac, National Australia Bank and the Commonwealth - for moving above and beyond the Reserve Bank of Australia's interest rates despite recording bumper profits, accusing them of arrogance and a "cynical cash grab".

AFP - Australia unveiled tough changes to finance laws Sunday, banning unpopular mortgage fees and cracking down on price collusion between major banks in a bid to boost competition in the sector.

Treasurer Wayne Swan said the reforms aimed to empower consumers, bolster smaller lenders and secure credit flows to both consumers and business, pledging a "fair go in the banking system".

Targeting Australia's "big four" banks, the reforms ban exit fees on new home loans and allow the competition regulator to prosecute lenders for colluding on rates, after large hikes sparked an angry consumer backlash.

An additional four billion dollars would also be injected into the mortgage-backed securities market under the reforms, Swan said.

"Build(ing) up competition in our banking system will ensure that interest rates are lower over time," Swan told reporters. "It's very important that we don't let the big banks off the hook."

The long-awaited reforms follow simmering discontent over Australia's comparatively steep interest rates, which are now higher than 7.50 percent due to hikes by commercial lenders above the 4.75 percent official cash rate.

Holding the benchmark rate steady this month, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) noted that "lending rates in the economy are now a little above average" due to the commercial banks raising the cost of borrowing above the RBA rate.

Swan has slammed the "big four" -- ANZ, Westpac, National Australia Bank and the Commonwealth -- for moving above and beyond the RBA despite recording bumper profits, accusing them of arrogance and a "cynical cash grab".

Australia's banks were credited with helping the country stave off recession during the global financial crisis after they eschewed risky lending and investment practices seen in the United States and Europe.

But a series of seven rate hikes since October 2009 has hit home-owners, while thousands of customers are expected to join a potential multi-billion dollar class action suit against a swathe of unpopular minor banking fees.

Swan said the global financial crisis had significantly eroded competition in Australia's 2.5-trillion-dollar finance sector by sinking smaller lenders, leaving "competitive roadblocks" which gave the major banks too much power.

"There's no silver bullet when it comes to building up competition in the banking sector, but today I'm announcing a raft of changes which will further strengthen competition in this vital sector for the Australian economy," he said.