In a bold move that traces back to the bygone era, the National Australia Bank (NAB) is considering a customer service revolution set to benefit millions. NAB wants to offer a convenience that has been absent from the nation’s banking landscape for many years.
Recognising the evolving needs of modern banking, this Australian-first initiative aims to provide flexibility for individuals and businesses who may find it difficult to schedule and squeeze in bank visits on weekdays.
If NAB goes through with permanently having branches open on a Sunday, it will be the first major bank to do so.
While the concept of Sunday banking is not entirely new, with Commonwealth Bank and ANZ having previously dabbled in the idea through trial runs, it never became a permanent fixture. However, NAB’s potential commitment to Sunday operations could set a new standard for the industry, encouraging other major banks to reconsider their weekend offerings.
‘Everything is on the table. I am considering it, absolutely,’ Ana Marinkovic, NAB’s personal banking chief, told the Australian Financial Review.
This openness to change reflects a growing understanding within the banking sector that customer needs are evolving, and the traditional Monday-to-Friday banking model may no longer suffice.
While the prospect of Sunday service is still under consideration, NAB is not waiting to make other changes that benefit its customers. This weekend marks the expansion of Saturday trading hours, with 17 additional branches joining the 12 that began opening on Saturdays in November of the previous year.
The feedback from the community has been overwhelmingly positive, indicating a strong demand for more accessible banking services.
Paul Carter, an executive for Personal Bank at NAB, acknowledges that while digital banking has significantly transformed the industry, the value of in-person services remains undiminished and ‘will never go out of style.’
‘We’re taking a fresh look at how we serve our customers and Saturday trading is the perfect complement to the $41 million we’ve invested in renovating our branches over the last year,’ he said.
The move to extend branch hours is a response to the busy lives of customers who struggle to fit banking into their hectic weekday schedules. NAB’s initiative is designed to provide more access for those who prefer or require face-to-face service, ensuring that banking can be conducted at a time that suits the customer’s lifestyle.

For NAB customers like Cameron and Brooke, who are in the process of securing a home loan, the extended hours are a significant relief.
‘Organising all of our loan documents remotely due to work has been challenging, it’s much more reassuring being able to talk to someone face-to-face,’ Cameron shared, and added that the convenience of Saturday banking means they no longer have to juggle work commitments with important financial decisions.
In addition to the extended branch hours, NAB is also responding to increased customer demand for cash services by opening 39 new ATMs across various states and territories. This expansion seems to counter the trend towards a cashless society, which has seen a significant reduction in both bank branches and ATMs in recent years.
Canstar reported that 230 bank branches closed in the 2023-24 financial year, with 52 of those in regional areas, and over the past five years, more than 6,000 ATMs have been removed.
The decision to open more branches on Saturdays and potentially Sundays, along with installing additional ATMs, suggests that NAB is taking a customer-centric approach, recognising the importance of choice and accessibility in banking services.
As we await further developments on Sunday trading, here is the list of NAB branches now open on Saturdays:
State/Territory | Locations |
Victoria | Keysborough, Cranbourne, Fountain Gate, Eastland, Epping, Watergardens, Northland |
New South Wales | Miranda, Hornsby, Eastgardens, Bondi Junction |
Queensland | Indooroopilly, Robina |
South Australia | Modbury |
Western Australia | Success |
Northern Territory | Palmerston |
Australian Capital Territory | Belconnen |
We would love to hear from you, our YourLifeChoices readers. What are your thoughts on the possibility of Sunday banking? Would extended hours make a difference in how you manage your financial affairs? Share your experiences and opinions in the comments below!
Also read: Major bank to close 16 branches: Is your local branch affected?
Back to the good old day’s – except, if this is accepted by bank users, expect the banks to put charges on for using the bank – remember Robin Hood? take, they do nothing for nothing from the rich and give to the poor – in this case it will be take from the poor and give to the rich – DO NOT TRUST BANKS, they do nothing for nothing.