Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) has launched its FY26–28 Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), with commitments supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through employment, procurement and community partnerships.
The launch, held on Gadigal Country in Sydney, also marked the 10th anniversary of the bank’s Indigenous Advisory Council (IAC), which has played a pivotal role in shaping CBA’s reconciliation journey.
IAC Chair Sean Gordon reflected on the milestone, highlighting the council’s role in driving accountability and growth.
“A decade of continuous advice, advocacy and accountability is no small achievement. It demonstrates a genuine willingness from this organisation to listen, to be challenged and to grow,” Mr Gordon said.
Key Commitments in CBA’s FY26–28 RAP
The new plan outlines more than 50 measurable actions designed to deepen engagement with First Nations communities, including:
- $100 million procurement spend with First Nations businesses between July 2025 and June 2028.
- Recruitment of 150 First Nations employees each year through targeted employment pathways.
- Expansion of Indigenous customer support and cultural capability training across the organisation.
- Embedding Indigenous engagement principles to shift from transactional consultation to genuine partnerships.
Gordon emphasised that these principles mark an important cultural shift:
“True reconciliation isn’t just about what you do for Indigenous people, it’s about what you do with us. Reconciliation can’t be bolted on. It must be built in.”
Leadership and Partnership at the Core
The RAP has been formally endorsed by CBA’s board and is actively supported at the executive level, with CEO Matt Comyn maintaining regular dialogue with the IAC through the CEO Advisory Council.
The plan arrives at a time when the financial services sector faces growing calls to play a stronger role in advancing Indigenous economic inclusion. First Nations Foundation chairman Ian Hamm has previously reinforced the importance of sustained private sector investment:
“It is only logical, and necessary, for the private and community sectors to make substantial and meaningful efforts to uplift Aboriginal people by way of the economy writ large.”
Looking Ahead: From Policy to Impact
The RAP also commits to improving access to banking services for Indigenous customers, strengthening place-based partnerships, and expanding financial literacy programs in community-led contexts. Career development for Indigenous employees will also be prioritised, with enhanced mentoring, leadership, and cultural support initiatives.
Closing the event, Gordon called on the organisation to focus on action and measurable results:
“Let the next decade be defined not just by plans and policies, but by impact, by Indigenous bankers thriving in this workforce, by Aboriginal businesses flourishing in our supply chain and by communities seeing the Commonwealth Bank not as a transaction but as a trusted partner.”
