Commonwealth Bank of Australia is set to remove another 119 positions in Australia, with the Finance Sector Union saying half a dozen of those roles linked to automation. 

The union said 43 of the affected jobs are at Bankwest, which was acquired by CBA in 2008.  

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The reductions cover mobile lending managers, whose work includes helping borrowers through the home loan application process. 

In a statement to Retail Banker International, CBA spokesperson said: “There is ongoing movement through hiring, internal mobility and recruitment in priority capability areas.  

“We also regularly review the roles and skills we need to deliver the best customer outcomes. Some roles are shifting, new roles are being created, and some roles are reducing as programmes finish, work is simplified and the mix of roles and skills across the bank evolves.” 

Findings from a recent FSU survey show close to three quarters of CBA employees and 85% of Bankwest staff are unhappy with their level of job security.  

More than half of workers at both institutions said they had thought about leaving during the past year due to workload demands and uncertainty. 

FSU national secretary Julia Angrisano said: “Still reeling from the 400 job cuts announced mere months ago, CBA employees are now peering down the barrel of another 119 jobs being wiped out, with seemingly no end in sight. 

“This time, CBA seems intent on hollowing out its frontline services, including mobile lending managers – the very services that make our banking sector human. 

“The new CBA Enterprise Agreement is an opportunity for CBA to provide the kind of job security the bank can well afford and which employees are crying out for.” 

The spokesperson added that CBA has about 49,000 employees nationwide and that staff numbers increased by about 2500 in the last financial year. 

In February, CBA outlined a Future Workforce programme backed by about A$90m over three years.  

The bank said this would expand support for workers affected by organisational change. Measures include a voluntary four-week Career Transition Placement programme. 

Last year, CBA terminated 45 positions within its call centres following the introduction of an AI chatbot designed to handle customer inquiries.