Australia's Major Banks Operate 1,805 Branches

The nation's five largest banks have reduced their total physical branch footprint by roughly 50% since 2017.

Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Banking

Australia's Major Banks Operate 1,805 Branches

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Do you feel that closing local bank branches reduces your community's access to important financial services?

Data from 30 June 2026 shows that Australia's five largest banks currently operate 1,805 physical branches. This figure represents a decline of nearly half of their total branch network compared to 2017.

Why it matters

The consistent closure of physical bank locations reflects a broader industry trend toward digital-first banking and the consolidation of retail footprints. These changes alter how customers access essential services across the country.

Official statistics from the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority confirm that the five largest banks operated 1,805 branches as of 30 June 2026. This reflects a nearly 50% reduction in total branch counts when measured against 2017 levels.

The players

Australian Prudential Regulation Authority

This is the primary financial regulatory body responsible for the supervision of banks, insurance companies, and superannuation funds in Australia.

ANZ

ANZ is one of the big four Australian banks providing a range of banking and financial products and services to retail and institutional customers.

Commonwealth Bank

Commonwealth Bank is a leading provider of integrated financial services, including retail, business, and institutional banking throughout Australia.

NAB

National Australia Bank is a major financial institution that serves millions of customers across personal, business, and corporate banking sectors.

Westpac

Westpac is one of Australia's oldest and largest banking institutions offering a comprehensive portfolio of financial services.

The details

The five largest banks in Australia, which include ANZ, Commonwealth Bank, NAB, Westpac, and Macquarie Bank, have significantly scaled back their brick-and-mortar operations over the last decade. The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority maintains oversight of these changes by tracking the points of presence for all authorised deposit-taking institutions.

The observed period for bank branch closures began in 2017.
The most recent data reporting date for branch locations was 30 June 2026.

Market Dynamics

This decline follows the long-term patterns captured by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority's authorised deposit-taking institutions points of presence statistics. It marks a clear structural shift away from traditional banking models as institutions prioritise digital platforms over physical infrastructure.

The continued closure of branches requires retail banking customers to transition their personal financial management to online or mobile-based tools. Shareholders may observe these shifts as efforts by banks to reduce operational costs and improve long-term margins.

The takeaway

The move toward digital banking is a permanent structural shift for the Australian financial sector. Customers should prepare for further consolidation of physical service centres as banks continue to reallocate resources toward online platforms.