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Commonwealth Bank

Universal Retail & Commercial BankingFounded 1911
Reviewed by Swet Parvadiya
Company data updated: December 2024

Acquisitions

Commonwealth Bank Acquisitions

5

Major Deals Covered

What are Commonwealth Bank's biggest acquisitions?

This page covers 5 major deals from 1990 to 2017, each with its price where disclosed and the reason behind it.

Major deals covered
5
First deal
1990
Most recent
2017
CompanyYearPricePurpose
State Bank of Victoria1990Undisclosed—
Colonial Limited (Colonial First State)2000Undisclosed—
Bankwest (Bank of Western Australia)2008Undisclosed—
ASB Bank (Full Ownership)2000Undisclosed—
Aussie Home Loans (Full Acquisition)2017Undisclosed—
What companies has Commonwealth Bank bought?
Major acquisitions by Commonwealth Bank documented here include Aussie Home Loans (Full Acquisition) (2017), Bankwest (Bank of Western Australia) (2008), Colonial Limited (Colonial First State) (2000), ASB Bank (Full Ownership) (2000) and State Bank of Victoria (1990).
What is Commonwealth Bank's most recent acquisition?
The most recent Commonwealth Bank acquisition documented here is Aussie Home Loans (Full Acquisition), in 2017.

Aussie Home Loans (Full Acquisition)

2017

Bankwest (Bank of Western Australia)

2008

Colonial Limited (Colonial First State)

2000

ASB Bank (Full Ownership)

2000

State Bank of Victoria

1990

Commonwealth Bank's Growth & Acquisition Strategy

Under CEO Matt Comyn, CommBank is pursuing a four-part strategic growth agenda: (1) Deepening Business Banking Market Share: CommBank is aggressively investing in SME digital transaction banking, merchant terminals (Smart POS), and specialized healthcare and agriculture bankers to win commercial market share from NAB; (2) AI-Driven Personalization & Customer Engagement Engine (CEE): Leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning to analyze billions of customer transaction data points in real time, delivering proactive bill reminders, fraud detection, and tailored credit offers; (3) Next-Generation Payments and Merchant Infrastructure: Upgrading payment switching networks, supporting real-time PayTo direct debits, and providing integrated invoicing software for small business owners; and (4) Sustainability and Renewable Energy Financing: Committing billions in green capital facilities, sustainability-linked loans, and residential energy-efficiency mortgage discounts.

How Commonwealth Bank Makes Money

Commonwealth Bank operates a high-margin, technology-driven universal banking model anchored by domestic retail and commercial franchises: (1) Retail Banking Services (~52% of operating income, A$14.1B), which provides residential home mortgages, personal loans, credit cards, and consumer deposit accounts, commanding ~25% of Australia's home loans and ~27% of household deposits; (2) Business Banking (~35% of operating income, A$9.5B), delivering tailored working capital facilities, commercial property lending, equipment finance, and payment acquiring services to Australian small-to-medium enterprises and agribusinesses; (3) Institutional Banking & Markets (~9% of operating income, A$2.4B), providing syndicated corporate finance, debt capital markets underwriting, foreign exchange, and commodities trading to multinational institutions; and (4) New Zealand Operations via ASB Bank (~4% of operating income, A$1.2B), a premier full-service banking institution serving over 1.3 million New Zealand consumers and businesses. CommBank's low-cost domestic deposit engine funds over 75% of its loan assets, providing superior net interest margin economics.

Commonwealth Bank Acquisitions FAQ

What is Commonwealth Bank's general approach to M&A and acquisitions?

Commonwealth Bank pursues a disciplined, strategic M&A approach focused on acquiring proprietary technologies, expanding customer distribution reach, and unlocking operational cost synergies rather than pursuing unselective scale.

What were some of the most transformative acquisitions completed by Commonwealth Bank?

Transformative transactions in Commonwealth Bank's history include pivotal mergers and acquisitions that secured key regional footprints, consolidated core market share, and brought proprietary software intellectual property in-house.

How does Commonwealth Bank successfully integrate acquired companies?

Commonwealth Bank deploys dedicated integration teams to harmonize core software stacks, align regulatory compliance systems, and unite company cultures while preserving entrepreneurial agility.

Does Commonwealth Bank divest non-core corporate assets?

Yes, Commonwealth Bank periodically evaluates its corporate portfolio, strategically divesting non-core or non-strategic assets to redeploy capital into high-margin core operational divisions.

Related M&A Histories

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Content is for informational purposes only. Not financial advice. Data sourced from SEC filings, annual reports, and public records. See our full disclaimer and methodology.