Authorised deposit-taking Institutions points of presence glossary

ADI refers to an authorised deposit-taking institution, meaning a body corporate authorised under section 9 of the Banking Act 1959, to carry on banking business in Australia (e.g. a bank, building society or credit union).

ADO refers to the industry segment Other ADIs, which consists of ADIs that are not banks, building societies, credit unions, or purchased payment facility providers (e.g. a special service provider).

ATM points of presence are terminals allowing an authorised cardholder to withdraw cash from either a cheque/savings or credit account. This can include Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) and Cash Dispensers (CDs). Where the terminal is an ATM, it will also provide access to a varying range of other services such as balance inquiry, transfer of funds and acceptance of deposits. Authorisation is via a Personal Identification Number (PIN). Access is unassisted and may be 24 hours/day, depending on the terminal’s location.

ASGS stands for the Australian Statistical Geography Standard. For more information, please see the explanatory notes for this publication.

AUS refers to the industry segment Other Domestic Banks, which consists of all locally-owned banks excluding those defined as a Major bank (see MAJ).

Banks are ADIs that assume or use the term ‘bank’ in relation to their banking business.

Bank@Post refers to Australia Post outlets that perform banking services. This information is obtained directly from Australia Post. Points of presence from ADIs do not include these outlets.

Branches are face-to-face points of presence that meet the following minimum criteria:

• accept cash and other deposits (including business deposits) and provide change;
• facilitate the keeping of accounts for customer access, including the provision of account balances;
• open and close accounts;
• can facilitate or arrange the assessment of the credit risk of existing and potential customers; and
• offer additional services in the one establishment such as financial services, business banking and specialist lending.

BS refers to the industry segment Building Societies, which consists of locally incorporated ADIs that assume or use the expression ‘building society’ in relation to their banking business.

CU refers to the industry sector Credit Unions, which consists of locally-incorporated ADIs that assume or uses the expression ‘credit union’ or ‘credit co-operative’ in relation to their banking business.

EFTPOS points of presence are terminals located at retail outlets which enable an authorised cardholder to purchase goods and services using either deposit or credit funds and may also enable cash withdrawals using deposit funds. Authorisation may be via a PIN or contactless payment. Access is with the assistance of the retailer and is therefore restricted to the operating hours of the retail outlet.

Face-to-face points of presence must provide face-to-face services and maintain a fixed address (i.e. do not include mobile lenders or travelling employees). They are categorised as either a branch or other face-to-face point of presence based on whether they meet APRA’s minimum branch requirements.

FOR_BANK refers to the industry sector Foreign Subsidiary Banks, which consists of foreign banks authorised to carry on banking business in Australia through a locally-incorporated subsidiary.

FOR_BR refers to the industry sector Branches of Foreign Banks, which consists of foreign banks authorised to carry on banking business in Australia through branches and are subject to specific restrictions on their deposit-taking activities.

MAJ refers to the industry sector Major Banks, which consists of the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, the National Australia Bank Limited, the Westpac Banking Corporation and their subsidiary banks.

Offshore areas (state classification for EFTPOS) on ARF 796.3 captures Australian territories that fall outside of the six states and two territories.

Other face-to-face points of presence provide face-to-face services and maintain a fixed address, but do not meet all of the minimum branch requirements. 

PPF provider or purchased payment facility provider refers to an ADI with authority to provide purchased payment facilities.

Remoteness Areas (RAs) are classifications under the ASGS Remoteness Structure. Suburbs and Localities that share common characteristics of remoteness are grouped together under the same RA class for statistical purposes. There are five classes of RAs: Major Cities of Australia, Inner Regional Australia, Outer Regional Australia, Remote Australia, and Very Remote Australia.

The ASGS Remoteness Structure is a geographical classification system developed by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Remoteness Areas divide Australia and the states and territories into five classes of remoteness on the basis of their relative access to services. Remoteness Areas are based on the Accessibility/Remoteness Index of Australia Plus (ARIA+), produced by the Hugo Centre for Population and Migration Studies.

For more information, please visit the ABS website: Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) Edition 3, July 2021 - June 2026 | Australian Bureau of Statistics (abs.gov.au)