The Commonwealth Bank is one of Australia’s leading providers of integrated financial services including retail, business and institutional banking, funds management, superannuation, insurance, investment and broking services.

The Group is one of the largest listed companies on the Australian Stock Exchange and is included in the Morgan Stanley Capital Global Index.

The key financial objective of the Group is to have Total Shareholder Return in the top quartile of our Australian listed peers over each rolling five year period. Total Shareholder Return is calculated as the growth in the value of the investment in the Commonwealth Bank’s shares, assuming all dividends are reinvested in shares at the point dividends are paid.

The strategic strengths of the Commonwealth Bank are;

• its brand
• scale
• diversified business mix

The Commonwealth Bank brand is the most recognised brand in the Australian financial services industry. Other award-winning brands within the Group include wealth management business Colonial First State Investments and retail broker Commonwealth Securities. In terms of scale, the Group has a strong domestic presence with the largest customer base of any Australian bank and the most comprehensive financial services distribution network.

Banking
The Commonwealth Bank provides a full range of retail banking services including home loans, credit cards, personal loans, transaction accounts and demand and term deposits. The Group has leading domestic market shares in home loans, personal loans, retail deposits and discount stockbroking and is Australia's largest issuer of credit cards. The Group also offers a full range of commercial products including business loans, equipment and trade finance, and rural and agribusiness products.

The Institutional and Business Services division of the Group serves corporations, government entities and other major institutions operating in Australasia. Corporate customers have access to financial markets services, securities underwriting, trading and distribution, corporate finance, equities, payments and transaction services, investment management and custody services.

Funds under Management
As a full financial services provider, the Group also offers investment products and superannuation. Customers can choose between investing directly in the range of investment funds offered by the Group, or obtain wider investment choice through the Group's master trust product, FirstChoice.  The Commonwealth Bank is the country's largest manager of Australian funds, and largest retail funds manager in terms of total value of funds under management.

The asset management business manages investment portfolios for a diverse range of retail and wholesale clients. It provides a large range of active and indexed investment options. These options include Australian and international shares, listed property, fixed interest, credit, infrastructure, private equity and cash.

Superannuation & Insurance
The Group provides term insurance, disability insurance, master trusts, annuities and investment products. The Group is Australia’s largest life insurer and is Australia's largest manager in retail superannuation, allocated pensions and annuities by funds under management. Life insurance operations are also conducted in New Zealand, where the Group has the leading market share, and throughout Asia and the Pacific.

International
The Commonwealth Bank is represented internationally through:

• the ASB Group in New Zealand including the Sovereign Insurance Group;
• life insurance businesses in Asia and Fiji;
• funds management operations in the UK, Singapore and Hong Kong; and
• representative offices in the USA, UK, Asia and the Pacific.

Networks and Alliances
The extensive reach of the Bank’s distribution network is achieved through the combination of the Group’s branch network and a nationwide agency arrangement with Australia Post.

The Group also offers convenient 24 hour access to banking services via telephone banking and Australia's most extensive EFTPOS and ATM networks.

The Commonwealth Bank is a leader in online financial services in Australia with facilities that include NetBank, the Bank’s Internet banking site; Commonwealth Securities, the country’s most popular online broker; and HomePath, an online service that provides information on buying, selling or investing in property.

The Group also has a wide agency and independent financial advisory distribution capability with trained and licensed investment advisers located throughout the branch network and aligned advisory services.

The Commonwealth Bank is characterised by its innovative alliances, which emphasise the application of technology to enhance customer service. The delivery of current and future information technology services to the Group is managed through the relationship with the Group’s technology partner, EDS Australia. The Bank has also formed a partnership with Telecom New Zealand (Australia) for all its telecommunication requirements.


Community Support
The Commonwealth Bank is a long-standing supporter of community activities and organisations. This support is directed at a broad range of activities that bring long term benefits to Australians and reflect community activities and organisations. Areas of particular emphasis include medical, education, youth, science and technology, the arts and the environment.

Refer to the Results for the most current financial statements and statistics for the Commonwealth Bank.