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.
Financial abuse is the illegal or improper use of a person’s money or property. This may include when someone:
- takes control of a person’s finances without their knowledge or permission
- takes control of a person’s finances through coercion
- limits a person’s access to funds
- applies pressure around a person’s financial decisions
- spends another person’s money without consent.
Support is available if you or someone you know is experiencing financial abuse:
- If someone is in immediate danger, please call the police on 000
- To access 24/7 counselling and support call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT
- To access free confidential information and support call the National Elder Abuse phone line 1800ELDERHelp (1800 353 374).
If you have a joint account and you’re experiencing financial hardship, we can assist you. You can apply for financial assistance support without involving the other joint account holders initially.
For support, contact our financial assistance team via live chat on your mobile banking app or call us on 02 8550 5686 from 9am to 5pm Sydney time Monday to Friday.
