Region. Farewell to BankWest

The WA-based BankWest, which has been undertaking a significant expansion in the eastern states, will soon fade away once the purchase by the Commonwealth Bank goes through. Bank West has a total of 10 business banking centres and customers service centres in Western Sydney. On October 8, the Commonwealth acquired the Bank of Western Australia Limited (BankWest) and St Andrew’s Australia Pty Ltd (St Andrew’s) through the execution of a sale and purchase agreement with UK based HBOS plc. The purchase does not extend to HBOS’s other Australian businesses - Capital Finance Australia Ltd, (based at Norwest), BOS International (Australia) Ltd and HBOS’s Australian Treasury operations.

Baulkham Hills. Only regional LGA on the table

The Baulkham Hills local government area (LGA) was the only Western Sydney LGA included in the top 15 places in which to live, in the inaugural BankWest Quality of Life Index. At the national level, it ranked 12th and 4th at the state level. Ku-ring-gai LGA topped the table at the national and NSW levels. Data was gathered from official government sources on such factors as health, home ownership, employment, earnings, education, crime rates, internet access and volunteering.

BankWest expands its services

BankWest will join a financial planning network on March 1 with financial advisers located in its Parramatta branches offering products provided by St Andrew’s Australia, the wealth management arm of HBOS Australia to which BankWest, based in Western Australia, belongs.