Finding support for financial abuse including elder abuse

If you’re in immediate danger, please call the police on 000.

Support is available if you or someone you know is experiencing financial abuse:

• For support with your banking needs, we encourage you to get in touch with us as soon as possible so we can assist you.

To access 24/7 counselling and support:

• call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732
• or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au

To access free confidential information and support for elder abuse:

• Call 1800ELDERHelp on 1800 353 374

It takes incredible strength to speak about experiences of financial abuse or domestic and family violence, and we’re here to offer confidential support with your banking needs.

Financial abuse occurs when someone restricts another person’s access to money, manipulates another person’s financial decisions, or uses another person’s money without their consent. This may include when someone:

• takes control of, or spends a person’s finances without their knowledge or permission
• takes control of, or applies pressure around a person’s finances through coercion
• limits a person’s access to funds

The abuser could be a partner, family member, carer, guardian or friend. Where the abuser is a partner or family member, the abuse constitutes family and domestic violence (FDV).

Some people, such as the elderly, people with a cognitive impairment, people with a disability or other vulnerable circumstances are at greater risk, as they are more likely to depend on others for assistance with their financial matters.

Financial abuse can take many forms and can often consist of several actions which take place over time, rather than a single event.

Some common forms of financial abuse include:

• Controlling or preventing a person’s access to their own or household money
• Refusing access to view bills or financial statements
• Making significant financial decisions without their input, for example forcing the person into getting loans or accounts they don’t want
• Not contributing to joint bills or parenting expenses
• Controlling behaviour that denies a person the ability to work or study
• Transferring a home or other assets out of the person’s name where ownership is shared
• Taking out a loan for an asset which is not of benefit to the person
• Trying to damage a person’s credit rating by not paying debts
• Fraudulently using another person’s details to obtain credit
• Misleading or forcing someone to become a guarantor.

A type of family violence defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as ‘a single or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust which causes harm or distress to an older person’. ‘Older person’ usually means 65 years or older, or 50 years or older for First Nations people.

Some common forms of elder abuse include:

• Abusing power of attorney by using power to take a person’s assets for themselves or for others who are not the rightful owner. Learn about power of attorney
• Forced signing over of ownership of assets or making them a beneficiary in the Will
• Failure to provide promised care due to a breakdown of financial assistance.

Family and domestic violence occurs when someone tries to hurt, intimidate, control or threaten another person in a personal relationship, including family members, partners or carers. It can include a range of behaviours, such as physical, verbal, sexual, emotional or spiritual abuse. It can also include financial abuse, technological abuse or stalking.

We’re committed to the safety and wellbeing of all our customers. If you're facing challenges, or feel you might be in a vulnerable situation, please let us know so we can assist.