The initiative is part of the bank's efforts to combat scams and fraud
Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CommBank or CBA) is set to double the number of its “Staying Safe Online” education sessions in regional areas, offering more than 400 seminars over the next 12 months.
The free, in-person sessions, hosted by branch teams, aim to help regional communities better identify and avoid online scams.
The expanded program will also see CommBank partnering with local community groups to increase the accessibility and awareness of these sessions. In addition to hosting seminars in regional branches, the bank plans to hold sessions in clubs, community centres, and other venues across regional towns. The initiative is open to all residents, regardless of their banking provider.
This expansion is part of CommBank’s broader efforts to combat scams and fraud. In the 2024 financial year, the bank invested over $800 million in customer protection against fraud, scams, and cybercrime, resulting in a 50% reduction in customer losses due to scams.
The one-hour “Staying Safe Online” seminars cover various topics, including recognising and avoiding common online scams, protecting personal information, and understanding the tactics used by cybercriminals.
“CBA has a strong commitment to regional Australia,” said Mark Jones (pictured above), executive general manager customer service network at Commonwealth Bank of Australia. “As the bank with the largest branch network in the country, we can leverage our scale to help more regional Australians stay safe online, and by partnering with other regional service providers, we can multiply this impact.
“We are doubling the number of free ‘Staying Safe Online’ seminars in the regions to more than one a day, and we will deliver them not just in our branches but in a wider range of venues, so we can help more Australians safely navigate today’s increasingly digitised world.”
The sessions are part of CommBank’s wider financial wellbeing program, which includes seminars on cyber security for small businesses and financial wellbeing for women. Over the past five years, the bank has delivered more than 3,350 seminars nationwide.
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