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ARTICLE · 15 NOVEMBER 2025

Debanking In Australia: Protecting Your Business Before It Happens

Bartier Perry Solicitors
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Understanding why debanking happens and how to respond can make a significant difference to business continuity and governance.

AustraliaGovernment, Public Sector
Gavin Stuart
Gavin Stuart
Christina Cavallaro
Christina Cavallaro
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Debanking occurs when a bank refuses, withdraws or closes a customer's banking services. This includes transaction accounts, merchant facilities or the ability to send and receive funds. Debanking can affect businesses of all sizes, particularly where a bank considers a customer high risk or cannot verify how the business operates.

Losing access to banking services is more than an inconvenience. It can disrupt payroll, supplier payments, settlements, contracts and reputation. Understanding why it happens and how to respond can make a significant difference to business continuity and governance.

Why debanking occurs

Banks are required to comply with the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 (AML/CTF Act). This requires them to:

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The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

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