Our approach to sustainability focuses on supporting vulnerable customers through transparent and responsible business practices.
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Sustainability
We’ve been part of the Western Australian community for more than 125 years. We’re committed to improving the financial wellbeing of our customers and communities across the country.
Our sustainability pillars
Our customers and community
We’re driven to create meaningful change for vulnerable homeowners through volunteering opportunities with partners focused on supporting those in financial need and at risk of domestic and financial abuse.
We share unique community insights and trends to help build awareness of issues facing vulnerable homeowners and to support the work of our key partners.
We proactively engage stakeholders across government, industry, and community groups to deliver insights that highlight issues facing vulnerable homeowners, to influence policy and create meaningful change.
Our people
We were founded in 1895 on Noongar Country. We’re dedicated to advancing reconciliation in Australia, with Bankwest locations now spanning 29 Aboriginal peoples’ lands across 11 nations.
Our cultural awareness initiatives and Inclusion @ Bankwest networks reflect our devotion to ensuring all our colleagues feel safe to bring their whole selves to work.
More than 3000 of our colleagues call WA home. We’re committed to supporting our communities through volunteering, partnerships, and research insights.
Good business practice
We embrace our role in contributing to a strong economy and resilient communities, through transparent and responsible practices.
Our contribution of economic insights by the Bankwest Curtin Economic Centre and our continual improvement of business practices ensures we are supporting a transition to a net-zero emissions economy by 2050.
Being a part of the CBA Group enables us to access the environmental, social, and governance expertise and initiatives of Australia’s largest financial services provider, supporting our work in areas of climate action, responsible lending, and addressing modern slavery.
Supporting reconciliation
As part of our commitment to advancing reconciliation in Australia, we’ve put in place a Reconciliation Action Plan (PDF). Through this plan, our colleagues strive to ensure we achieve our purpose of improving the financial wellbeing of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander customers and communities every day.
We’ve introduced initiatives to broaden our understanding of Indigenous peoples such as eLearning modules, cultural awareness training for colleagues and installing Acknowledgement of Country signage in all branches and the Bankwest Place foyer.
We’re also proud to partner with Reconciliation WA and actively support their programs and activities. We take part in National Reconciliation Week and celebrate NAIDOC Week, with a range of colleague, customer and community initiatives.
Koort Waangkiny
Our hearts are speaking
Our internal network is Koort Waangkiny, which means 'our hearts are speaking' or 'heart stories' in Noongar.
Koort Waangkiny gives a voice to our employees in how and what we focus on towards reconciliation. It supports information sharing and contributes to building an awareness and understanding of First Australians' culture and history.
Perth-based Yawuru (Kimberley region) artist Justine Kinney designed a bespoke logo for Koort Waangkiny, which now also adorns our colleague uniform.
Indigenous Customer Assistance Line (ICAL)
Better banking access
ICAL is dedicated to providing better banking access for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander customers. ICAL aims to improve the financial wellbeing of indigenous customers by providing a culturally sensitive ID process, an alternative solution for failed ID checks and Back Office Payment Transfers.
This ensures remote customers are not forced to travel hours to a branch in the event of a failed ID check. In some cases, money can be transferred to a friend or family member for withdrawal.
Jawun and CareerTrackers
Supporting development
We’ve formed partnerships with Jawun and CareerTrackers to support the development, learnings, and growth of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and people, and our colleagues.
A secondment program with Jawun provides Bankwest colleagues, who have been identified as possessing specific and desired skills required to support projects in indigenous organisations, a secondment opportunity with that organisation.
We also support CareerTrackers through an internship program providing – placements for Indigenous students to broaden their workplace experience and help set them up for success in the professional world.
Our partnerships
Creating a positive social impact for our customers and communities by investing in strategic and relevant partnerships.
Volunteering
Our volunteering partnerships and two days' paid volunteer leave, enable colleagues to make a positive difference in the community.
Advocacy
We work with government to tackle domestic and financial abuse and improve the financial wellbeing of our customers and community.
Research that matters
We fund research partnerships focussed on vulnerable homeowners and creating meaningful change.
We believe in equality and inclusion
We all deserve equal access to opportunity to help us reach our potential.
Want to get in touch?
If you’d like to contact us about our contributions to the community, we’d love to hear from you.
