COBA has welcomed the bipartisan approach taken in Federal Parliament to give small and medium banking institutions more time to prepare for the Banking Executive Accountability Regime (BEAR).
Amendments to the Bill moved by the Opposition in the House were supported by the Government and the amended Bill has now passed the Senate. Small and medium banking institutions have until 1 July 2019 to prepare for the BEAR. It will commence for the major banks on 1 July 2018.
“It’s very pleasing that the Government and the Opposition recognise the importance of customer owned banking and the vital role it plays in delivering diversity and competition in retail banking,” COBA CEO Michael Lawrence said.
“To promote a more competitive banking market, it is critically important to minimise regulatory costs on smaller banking institutions.
“Customers ultimately bear the cost of regulatory compliance.
“MPs have also recognised that the regulatory compliance burden is effectively a competitive advantage for the major banks. This is because major banks have vastly greater resources than their smaller competitors to quickly respond to new regulatory obligations.
“More time for small and medium banking institutions to prepare for the BEAR in an orderly way will reduce the cost burden that would otherwise apply.
“I congratulate the Government and the Opposition on this outcome.”
