Women inspired to reach for the top

BankSA Managing Director Jane Kittel is inspired to work with BankSA Head of Brand and Marketing Sarah Cutbush work closely together. Picture: Dylan Coker Source: The Advertiser

MORE than three in four girls and young women aspire to leadership roles, and many nominate a female boss as the most inspiring in their lives, a survey has found.

Results of the YWCA "She Speaks" survey of 1650 women aged from 15  to 30 will be released today as part of International Women's Day celebrations.

The survey found:

MOST admired was "my mum" - followed by  Australia's first female Prime Minister, Julia  Gillard.

LACK of confidence is  a strong barrier for those who don't aspire to be leaders.

BOSSES were most admired by 40 per cent of  those who chose professional acquaintances as the women they most admired.

YWCA communications manager Chelsea Lewis said the survey showed most women were aspirational in their work and lives.

Sarah Cutbush, Bank SA head of brand and marketing, said the bank's managing director Jane Kittel was one of the main reasons she'd sought work at the bank.

"Jane is the first female managing director in the bank's 165-year-history," Ms Cutbush said.

She added: "That is truly inspirational."

Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement chief executive officer Cheryl Axleby said female leaders at work had the compassion and knowledge to be role models for young women.

"We are showing the way that anything is possible," she said.

ALRM legal secretary Kaylia Power, 23, said she was most inspired by her grandmother, mother, aunties and Ms Axleby at work.

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Aussies unaware of Big 4's reach

Most Australians are unaware of the reach of the big four banks. Source: News Limited

TWO in three Australians think there is not enough competition in the banking system, and they don't know the half of it.

When asked, Australians are alarmingly ignorant of the true reach of the big four bank's power.

Just 53 per cent of people are aware that Westpac owns St George, having taken it over in 2008, and that's the most informed we get.

An even slimmer 36 per cent know that BankWest is now owned by Commonwealth Bank.

Just 21 per cent are aware UBank is run by National Australia Bank, 14 per cent that RAMS is owned by Westpac and 12 per cent that Aussie Home Loans is one third owned, soon to be majority controlled, by Commonwealth Bank, pending regulatory approval.

Still, four in five Australians firmly believe the big four banks make excessive profits. And two in three want an inquiry to find out why.

The industry body representing credit unions and building societies, Abacus, will today launch a national campaign and website to lobby for an independent inquiry into the banking system.

The survey of 1000 Australians found 65 per cent think there is not enough competition in the Australian banking system.

When asked, people guessed the banks controlled around 70 per cent of all home loans. Figures released last week reveal the big banks are in fact writing 92 per cent of all new loans.

More than half of people, 54 per cent, feel big banks do not treat their customers fairly on home loan rates.

"Australians are angry about the dominance of the major banks,'' the chief executive of Abacus, Louise Petschler, said.

"The Balance Banking campaign will lobby for change to address the imbalance in banking, through a national debate and independent review of our banking system.''

Abacus will launch its website www.balancebanking.com.au today.

The Coalition has already vowed to hold an inquiry into the banking system if elected.

Who owns the smaller banks?

St George owned by Westpac since 2008
BankWest owned by Commonwealth Bank since 2008
UBank owned by National Australia Bank (founded by NAB in 2008)
RAMS owned by Westpac since 2008
Aussie Home Loans owned by Commonwealth Bank (intention to take majority stake announced in 2012)
Bank of Melbourne owned by Westpac since 1997
Bank SA owned by Westpac since 1997

View the original article here

Aussies unaware of Big 4's reach

Most Australians are unaware of the reach of the big four banks. Source: News Limited

TWO in three Australians think there is not enough competition in the banking system, and they don't know the half of it.

When asked, Australians are alarmingly ignorant of the true reach of the big four bank's power.

Just 53 per cent of people are aware that Westpac owns St George, having taken it over in 2008, and that's the most informed we get.

An even slimmer 36 per cent know that BankWest is now owned by Commonwealth Bank.

Just 21 per cent are aware UBank is run by National Australia Bank, 14 per cent that RAMS is owned by Westpac and 12 per cent that Aussie Home Loans is one third owned, soon to be majority controlled, by Commonwealth Bank, pending regulatory approval.

Still, four in five Australians firmly believe the big four banks make excessive profits. And two in three want an inquiry to find out why.

The industry body representing credit unions and building societies, Abacus, will today launch a national campaign and website to lobby for an independent inquiry into the banking system.

The survey of 1000 Australians found 65 per cent think there is not enough competition in the Australian banking system.

When asked, people guessed the banks controlled around 70 per cent of all home loans. Figures released last week reveal the big banks are in fact writing 92 per cent of all new loans.

More than half of people, 54 per cent, feel big banks do not treat their customers fairly on home loan rates.

"Australians are angry about the dominance of the major banks,'' the chief executive of Abacus, Louise Petschler, said.

"The Balance Banking campaign will lobby for change to address the imbalance in banking, through a national debate and independent review of our banking system.''

Abacus will launch its website www.balancebanking.com.au today.

The Coalition has already vowed to hold an inquiry into the banking system if elected.

Who owns the smaller banks?

St George owned by Westpac since 2008
BankWest owned by Commonwealth Bank since 2008
UBank owned by National Australia Bank (founded by NAB in 2008)
RAMS owned by Westpac since 2008
Aussie Home Loans owned by Commonwealth Bank (intention to take majority stake announced in 2012)
Bank of Melbourne owned by Westpac since 1997
Bank SA owned by Westpac since 1997

View the original article here