NAB is stepping up its push in business banking, targeting the medium and large business segments with a new specialist customer acquisition unit.
The bank is expanding a dedicated customer acquisition team, bringing together business bankers from across its business & private banking (B&PB) and corporate & institutional banking (C&IB) divisions into a single national group focused on originating deals and coordinating support for larger clients.
The new team will focus on pursuing opportunities in the medium and large business segments and simplifying how these customers engage with the bank. A bespoke support team will provide specialist support such as fast‑tracking customer approvals, simplifying onboarding and providing whole‑of‑bank solutions.
This builds on the work of existing teams across NAB’s business and corporate divisions that already support customers in the medium and large segments. It also aligns with NAB’s progress toward becoming more customer‑centric while growing business banking, deposits, and proprietary home lending.
Cathryn Carver (pictured left), NAB group executive corporate & institutional banking, said the new model is designed to reduce complexity for both customers and bankers, particularly where larger or more sophisticated transactions are involved.
“There is no area more important to us and our customers than business banking – our heartland,” Carver said in a media release.
“While competition has intensified in recent years, we’ve made it very clear that we’re focussed on extending our market leadership.
“We’re taking the best business banking capability from across NAB and creating a team that will be the cornerstone of what being the most customer-centric company in Australia and New Zealand looks like.”
Andrew Auerbach (pictured right), NAB group executive business & private banking, said the move builds on the bank’s existing leadership position in key business segments.
“One in three agribusinesses and one in four SME businesses bank with NAB," Auerbach said. "With this expansion, we believe we can help meet the ambitions of even more medium and large businesses in Australia.
“By combining specialist sector expertise, deep local relationships, and the full breadth of NAB’s balance sheet, we’re delivering faster, more coordinated support to our customers.
“This is a unique model that gives business customers the products, insights, and banking expertise they need to grow from day one.”
The move comes as commercial lending appetite shows signs of improvement, with recent Equifax data reporting a 3% annual rise in overall commercial credit demand and NAB’s latest business survey pointing to firmer trading conditions, stronger profitability, and confidence above long‑run averages.
For mortgage and commercial brokers working with trading businesses, NAB’s greater focus on acquisition and coordinated support could create additional options for clients seeking more complex funding, sector‑specific expertise, or multi‑product solutions under a single relationship.
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