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An introduction to Commonwealth Bank of Australia

From proud beginnings in 1912, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia has progressed to be one of Australia’s largest and most dynamic financial institutions.

The Commonwealth Bank’s objective is to excel in customer service through the secure and efficient provision of banking and other financial services to people, businesses and governments.

A leader in the Australian banking industry, the Commonwealth Bank employs in excess of 30,000 staff with a balanced blend of experienced bankers and skilled specialist personnel. Through its staff expertise and sophistication of products and services, the Bank offers customers a balanced, professional and flexible range of banking facilities.

Today, the Commonwealth Bank boasts more than 1000 branches and an extensive ATM network that blankets Australia. Add to this our Mobile Banker Service for home loans, which enables our lenders to come to you in your home or office, and you will see that virtually anywhere you choose to live, you will have ready access to first class financial services from the Commonwealth Bank.

If you choose to migrate your finances through the Commonwealth Bank, you may wish to peruse our Australian based website at www.commbank.com.au to gain a better understanding of the products and services that will be available to you when you arrive.

An introduction to ASB Bank

ASB Bank is fully owned by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia and was established in 1847. Through a national network of over 120 branches the Bank provides a comprehensive range of products and services that can be tailored to the needs of individual, business and rural customers.

We work to understand the needs of every customer, including migrants to a new country, so we can best serve your needs. This has resulted in ASB Bank being rated as the number one New Zealand Bank in customer satisfaction for six years in a row in retail and for four years in a row for business banking. (University of Auckland Business School’s Residential Bank Customer Surveys 1998-2003.)

Perhaps more than any other New Zealand financial organisation, ASB Bank has been committed to making our customers’ lives easier through the use of user-friendly technology and being a one-stop financial services provider.

Being the first to introduce innovative products, as a direct result of listening to our customers, is one key to our success. The past years have seen the launch of our Internet and phone based banking system, credit card reward programmes and a commercial mobile phone banking service in New Zealand.

For us, it is not about being a Bank that also offers insurance and investment products, it is about being an organisation that provides excellence in customer service. This is reflected in our competitive product range, from transaction accounts to wealth management services, demanded in today’s dynamic markets.

If you choose to migrate your finances through ASB Bank, you may wish to peruse our New Zealand based website www.asb.co.nz to obtain a further understanding of the products and services that will be available to you once you arrive in New Zealand.

This website is produced by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia ABN 48 123 123 124 AFSL 234945 ("The Bank"). This report is published, approved and distributed by the Bank. The Bank is incorporated in Australia with limited liability. Please view our website at www.research.commbank.com.au. The Bank and its subsidiaries, including CommSec, Commonwealth Australia Securities LLC, CBA Europe Ltd and Commonwealth Research, are domestic or foreign entities or business areas of the Commonwealth Bank Group of Companies (CBGOC). CBGOC and their directors, employees and representatives are referred to in this disclaimer as "the Group". This report (including this website where ?this report? is used henceforth) is published solely for informational purposes and is not to be construed as a solicitation or an offer to buy any securities or financial instruments. This report has been prepared without taking account of the objectives, financial situation and capacity to bear loss, knowledge, experience or needs of any specific person who may receive this report. No member of the Group does, or is required to, assess the appropriateness or suitability of the report for recipients who therefore do not benefit from any regulatory protections in this regard. All recipients should, before acting on the information in this report, consider the appropriateness and suitability of the information, having regard to their own objectives, financial situation and needs, and, if necessary seek the appropriate professional, foreign exchange or financial advice regarding the content of this report. We believe that the information in this report is correct and any opinions, conclusions or recommendations are reasonably held or made, based on the information available at the time of its compilation, but no representation or warranty, either expressed or implied, is made or provided as to accuracy, reliability or completeness of any statement made in this report. Any opinions, conclusions or recommendations set forth in this report are subject to change without notice and may differ or be contrary to the opinions, conclusions or recommendations expressed elsewhere by the Group. We are under no obligation to, and do not, update or keep current the information contained in this report. The Group does not accept any liability for any loss or damage arising out of the use of all or any part of this report. Any valuations, projections and forecasts contained in this report are based on a number of assumptions and estimates and are subject to contingencies and uncertainties. Different assumptions and estimates could result in materially different results. The Group does not represent or warrant that any of these valuations, projections or forecasts, or any of the underlying assumptions or estimates, will be met. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The Group has provided, provides, or seeks to provide, investment banking, capital markets and/or other services, including financial services, to the companies described in the report and their associates. This report is not directed to, or intended for distribution to or use by, any person or entity who is a citizen or resident of or located in any locality, state, country or other jurisdiction where such distribution, publication, availability or use would be contrary to law or regulation or which would subject any entity within the Group to any registration or licensing requirement within such jurisdiction. All material presented in this report, unless specifically indicated otherwise, is under copyright to the Group. None of the material, nor its content, nor any copy of it, may be altered in any way, transmitted to, copied or distributed to any other party, without the prior written permission of the appropriate entity within the Group. In the case of certain products, the Bank or one of its related bodies corporate is or may be the only market maker. The Group, its agents, associates and clients have or have had long or short positions in the securities or other financial instruments referred to herein, and may at any time make purchases and/or sales in such interests or securities as principal or agent, including selling to or buying from clients on a principal basis and may engage in transactions in a manner inconsistent with this report.

European Investors: The Bank is registered in England (No. BR250) and authorised and regulated in the UK by the Financial Services Authority ("FSA"). This report does not purport to be a complete statement or summary. The products and services referred to in this report may put your capital at risk. Investments, persons, matters and services referred to in this report may not be regulated by the FSA. The Bank can clarify where FSA regulations apply.

All investors - Analyst Certification and Disclaimer: Each research analyst, primarily responsible for the content of this research report, in whole or in part, certifies that with respect to each security or issuer that the analyst covered in this report: (1) all of the views expressed accurately reflect his or her personal views about those securities or issuers; and (2) no part of his or her compensation was, is, or will be, directly or indirectly, related to the specific recommendations or views expressed by that research analyst in the report. The analyst(s) responsible for the preparation of this report may interact with trading desk personnel, sales personnel and other constituencies for the purpose of gathering, synthesizing, and interpreting market information. Directors or employees of the Group may serve or may have served as officers or directors of the subject company of this report. The compensation of analysts who prepared this report is determined exclusively by research management and senior management (not including investment banking). No inducement has been or will be received by the Group from the subject of this report or its associates to undertake the research or make the recommendations. The research staff responsible for this report receive a salary and a bonus that is dependent on a number of factors including their performance and the overall financial performance of the Group, including its profits derived from investment banking, sales and trading revenue.

The Commonwealth Bank of Australia is a member of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) established under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. In respect of deposits with an office of the bank in the UK, payments under the scheme are limited to 100% of the first £35,000* per person (for claims against firms declared in default).

* The actual level of compensation you receive will depend on the basis of your claim. FSCS can only pay compensation for financial loss. Compensation limits are per person (per firm and type of claim).

Most depositors, including individuals and small firms, are covered and deposits denominated in all currencies are treated alike. Please note that the scheme does not apply to deposits held in Australian dollars, which are held with a branch of the bank in Australia. Deposits made with Commonwealth Bank offices overseas or with ASB Bank are not covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. Commonwealth Bank complies with the Banking Code, a copy of which is available from the British Bankers Association.

Further details of the UK compensation scheme are available on request.

It should also be noted that in the unlikely event of the Bank's insolvency, assets available are first used to meet deposit liabilities in Australia in preference to meeting deposit liabilities held elsewhere, including the UK, where depositors may receive a lower pay-out.

We do not charge any fee for any reports provided. You may be charged fees in relation to the financial products the Bank provides. These are set out in the relevant Product Disclosure Statement. Our employees receive a salary and do not receive any commissions or fees. However, they may be eligible for a bonus payment from us based on a number of factors relating to their overall performance during the year. Our employees may also receive benefits such as tickets to sporting and cultural events, corporate promotional merchandise and other similar benefits. If you have a complaint, the Bank's dispute resolution process can be accessed on +44 (0)20 7710 3990.

Where relevant, unless otherwise noted, all data is sourced from Australian Bureau of Statistics material. The ABS material used in this report includes ABS catalogue number, name of publication, date of publication. www.abs.gov.au