Overseas Bankers Association of Australia
The OBAA provides the means whereby overseas bank representatives may meet together on a social basis to maintain personal and business contacts; and to enhance relations between overseas bank representatives and the resident Australian banking, commercial and government organisations.
The Association is a non-profit and non-political association.
BECOME A MEMBER
The Overseas Bankers Association of Australia (OBAA) welcomes Members and their Guests to join in a range of social and educational activities.
Benefits of membership include:
• Opportunities to meet and network with other members
• A way to increase the brand recognition of your organisation in the local market
• Learn about developments at other banks and financial institutions
• Participate in educational updates from regulators, lawyers, accounting and professional firms
• Expert updates on the economy, debt capital markets, loan syndication, trade finance and more
GALLERY
COMMITTEE
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Maria Ladu, ANZ
Asma Nafa, Arab Bank
Priyanka Acharya, Bank of America
Jamal Miller, BNY Mellon
David Scorzelli, CBA
John Frangulis, In1Bank
Andre Danelian, JP Morgan
Nick Ball, MUFG
Cecil Javate, NAB
Richard Leong, SMBC
Karen Ewens, Westpac
COMMITTEE CONTACTS
MEMBERS
ANZ
Baker McKenzie
(Honorary Member)
Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI)
China Merchants Bank
Credit Agricole
Hua Nan Commercial Bank
JP Morgan
National Australia Bank (NAB)
SMBC
United Overseas Bank
Arab Bank
Bank of Communications
Bank of New York Mellon
Citibank Australia
CTBC Bank Co.
In1Bank Ltd
Mizuho
Rabobank
Standard Chartered Bank
Wells Fargo
Bank of America
Merrill Lynch
Bank of Queensland
Caixa Bank
Commerzbank AG
Deutsche Bank
ING Bank
MUFG
Scotiabank
State Bank of India
Westpac
Arab Bank Australia Limited
Bank of Sydney
China Everbright Bank
Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA)
Global IME Bank
Intesa Sanpaolo
National Bank of Greece
Shinhan Bank
Taipei Fubon Bank
Woori Bank
HISTORY
The first meeting of the Overseas Bankers Association of Australia (OBAA) was held on 27 August 1984 at the Imperial Services Club in Sydney. 52 representatives of the 101 foreign banks operating in Sydney at the time attended the meeting.
A Steering Committee was established and at the end of January 1985 a letter was sent to all foreign banks represented in Australia advising that a general meeting would be held on 20 February 1985 to approve the constitution and elect the office bearers. 72 representatives from 61 foreign banks attended the meeting.
The first meeting of the new Committee was held on 18 April 1985. A letter from the Federal Treasurer, Paul Keating, was read welcoming the formation of the OBAA and giving the Government’s official recognition. The Governor General, Sir Ninian Stephen, also conveyed best wishes for the success of the Association.
The guest of honour and speaker at the Foundation Luncheon was Sir Bede Callaghan, former Managing Director of the Commonwealth Bank and at the time the Chairman of the Foreign Investment Review Board. Guests from the Reserve Bank, Australian Bankers Association and Australia Merchant Bankers Association were also invited to attend. 97 members and guests attended the foundation luncheon.
THE OBAA TODAY
The OBAA continues to thrive with a number of banks enjoying membership of the Association.
The OBAA is managed by a Committee comprised of a diverse group of bankers from both foreign and domestic banks. The Association conducts functions on an annual basis for the benefit of its members and these range from cultural nights and thought leadership lunches to golf days and ‘young banker’ networking events. Membership is at the institutional level which enables all staff of a member institution to attend functions at the ‘member’ rate.
MOVING FORWARD
As a mature association, we look at the role foreign banks have had in the development of Australia, the economy and the thousands of individual Australians who have worked for and learned their skills from foreign banks. We also look to the involvement that foreign banks will have in the future development of the Australian economy.
The OBAA recognises the work done by long standing members of the foreign bank community, awarding our first Life Membership in 2008. Currently, there are ten Life Members of the OBAA.
In 2020, in keeping with the continuing development of the Association, we recognised the 35th anniversary of its establishment.