Banks help DV victims

THE nation’s biggest banks are giving financial assistance to thousands of domestic and family violence victims to help them flee abuse.

The Commonwealth Bank, National Australia Bank, ANZ and Westpac are handing out aid to customers who are in need to help them become financially independent away from an abusive partner.

Banks have quietly introduced the measures due to concerns about high uptake of these services.

CBA’s assistance package for DV victims includes $1000 on a debit card, a $500 gift card for groceries and a prepaid mobile phone with a $30 data package, depending on the person’s circumstances.

CBA’s general manager of financial assistance solutions Rob Kennaugh said “we want our customers to know we’re on their side”.

Customers seeking these packages at banks are assessed on a case-by-case basis by a team of experts including those trained domestic and family violence.

Westpac, ANZ and NAB also offer a variety of financial services for DV victims.

Financial Counselling Australia’s executive director Fiona Guthrie said there has long been demand for these types of services and economic abuse was often a major component of family violence.

“It’s encouraging that the banking industry is recognising this and are helping people to recover or re-establish after family violence,’’ she said.

“We also need to make sure that we work successfully with people who are perpetrators of family violence.”

Ms Guthrie said physical and emotional and psychological violence was also a key problem in these situations.

Sexually-transmitted debt – where a partner passes on their debts to another – was also often a common issue.

“The woman may have signed the dotted line that the bloke has got the car and she will end up with the debt,’’ Ms Guthrie said.