National Australia Bank Turns Back on Bitcoin, Closes Accounts

Australia's bitcoin-friendliest bank turns cold, closing accounts due to 'unacceptable risk' to its business and reputation.

AccessTimeIconApr 9, 2014 at 1:39 p.m. UTC
Updated Sep 29, 2023 at 11:57 a.m. UTC
10 Years of Decentralizing the Future
May 29-31, 2024 - Austin, TexasThe biggest and most established global hub for everything crypto, blockchain and Web3.Register Now

The National Australia Bank (NAB) has decided to dissociate itself from bitcoin, informing bitcoin-related customers it will be closing their accounts next month.

The news is significant as NAB was previously Australia’s most bitcoin-friendly bank, with their representatives actively seeking to build relationships with bitcoin businesses and working with them to understand digital currency issues like fraud prevention.

An Australian trader who operates through LocalBitcoins.com received a letter today informing him of the change in direction. It reads:

"NAB has a responsibility and commitment to continually review its risk profile and the businesses we bank, ensuring that those businesses do not pose risks to NAB.

NAB has recently conducted a review of businesses that trade in digital currencies and has determined that digital currency providers pose an unacceptable level of risk, both to our business and reputation.

As a result of this review, NAB has decided to stop providing banking services to you and will close your accounts, effective 2nd May 2014."

The letter, which bears a signature but no typed name, said it would return any remaining funds with a bank check and provided a free customer support number to call with any questions.

The customer, 'Yo Shima,' who trades bitcoins face-to-face as AusBitcoins, said he was in good standing and there had never been any hint of fraudulent or other untoward behavior associated with his business or bank account. He is currently one of Australia's most active over-the-counter bitcoin traders, buying and selling about AU$50,000 worth per week on average since he began almost a year ago.

Other bitcoin-related businesses in Australia confirmed they had also been informed NAB was turning its back on bitcoin, and were currently working with other financial institutions to establish a more reliable relationship.

Banks and bitcoins

Australia's banking industry is dominated by the ‘Big Four’ corporate banking groups: NAB, ANZ, the Commonwealth Bank and Westpac. Of the four, Commonwealth had previously been the one most hostile to bitcoin, while ANZ reportedly works with digital currency businesses on a case-by-case basis. Westpac’s policy remains unknown.

NAB produced a report on bitcoin for its currency traders last December, where it compared bitcoin and digital currencies with existing national currencies. The report was generally curious and neutral in tone, but said bitcoin would take a few more years to achieve mainstream acceptance.

The bank did not give a reason for its policy change, however Mizuho, one of Japan’s largest banks, may have spooked other large banks around the world when it was named as a defendant in the US class action lawsuit against departed exchange Mt. Gox. The complaint stated that by continuing to provide banking services to Mt. Gox, Mizuho "profited from the fraud".

Australian $100 image via Shutterstock

Disclosure

Please note that our privacy policy, terms of use, cookies, and do not sell my personal information has been updated.

CoinDesk is an award-winning media outlet that covers the cryptocurrency industry. Its journalists abide by a strict set of editorial policies. In November 2023, CoinDesk was acquired by the Bullish group, owner of Bullish, a regulated, digital assets exchange. The Bullish group is majority-owned by Block.one; both companies have interests in a variety of blockchain and digital asset businesses and significant holdings of digital assets, including bitcoin. CoinDesk operates as an independent subsidiary with an editorial committee to protect journalistic independence. CoinDesk employees, including journalists, may receive options in the Bullish group as part of their compensation.


Learn more about Consensus 2024, CoinDesk's longest-running and most influential event that brings together all sides of crypto, blockchain and Web3. Head to consensus.coindesk.com to register and buy your pass now.