Bank of Western Australia Ltd

Bank of Western Australia Ltd

• Agricultural Bank of Western Australia, 1895-1945
• Rural and Industries Bank of Western Australia, 1945-1994
• Bank of Western Australia, 1994- present (trading under the name Bankwest)

• Business

BankWest began in 1895 as the Agricultural Bank of Western Australia, set up by the Western Australian Government to service the needs of the state’s farmers.

By 1923, the bank had eight district offices throughout Western Australia, and in 1945 the bank became a trading bank under the new name, the Rural and Industries Bank of Western Australia (known as the R&I). In 1956, the bank became a savings bank.

The first branch in Sydney was opened in 1985.

In 1994, the bank became the Bank of Western Australia and started trading under the name Bankwest.

The Bank of Western Australia joined the Commonwealth Bank Group in 2008 and became part of Australia’s largest provider of financial services.
(see https://www.bankwest.com.au/about-us/our-journey)

Historical documents pertaining to the R & I Bank of Western Australia Ltd and subsidiary companies including the Agricultural Bank of Western Australia.

Note: Historic records of the the Rural and Industries Bank of Western Australia have been transferred to the State Records Office of Western Australia.

Open by appointment.

Revised 26 May 2018

• Industry, Manufacturing and Commerce (Thematic area)