Revocation of authority to carry on banking business 2022 – Volt Bank Limited

Administered by Department of the Treasury

Legislation au C2023G01018 In force Gazette

Legislation content

 

Revocation of authority to carry on banking business 2022 – Volt Bank Limited

Banking Act 1959                                        

 

To: Volt Bank Limited ABN 67 622 375 722 (the body corporate) SINCE:

  1. the body corporate, by notice in writing to APRA, has requested the revocation of its section 9 authority to carry on banking business in Australia (the authority); and

 

B.            I am satisfied that the revocation of the authority would not be contrary to the national interest or the interests of depositors of the body corporate,

 

I, Therese McCarthy Hockey, a delegate of APRA, under subsection 9A(1) of the Banking Act 1959 (the Act), REVOKE the authority.

 

Under subsection 9A(5A) of the Act, the authority continues in effect in relation to the matters and periods specified in the schedule, as though the revocation had not happened, for the purposes of the provisions of the Act as specified in the schedule.

 

This instrument commences on the day it is made. Dated: 26 August 2022

 

Therese McCarthy Hockey Executive Director Banking Division

 

Interpretation

In this instrument:

APRA means the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority.

banking business has the meaning given in subsection 5(1) of the Act.

section 9 authority has the meaning given in subsection 5(1) of the Act.

 

Notes

APRA is required to publish notice of the revocation in the Gazette, and may also publish notice of the revocation in other ways.

Schedule – continuation of authority

The authority continues in effect in relation to the following matters and periods, as though the revocation had not happened, for the purposes of the following provisions of the Banking Act 1959 (the Act):

 

B.E.A.R.

 

  1. in relation to any breach, or possible breach, of a provision contained in Part IIAA of the Act which has occurred (or may have occurred) prior to the date of this instrument:

 

(a)          section 37FC(d) ‘Events for which APRA must be notified’;

(b)          section 37G ‘Pecuniary penalty for non-compliance with this Part’;

(c)           section 37J ‘APRA may disqualify an accountable person’; and

(d)          section 37JA ‘APRA may vary or revoke a disqualification’;

2.             in relation to variable remuneration which relates to the period prior to the date of this instrument, for the period of 4 years after the date of this instrument, Division 4 of Part IIAA ‘Deferred remuneration obligations’;

 

Investigations

 

3.             in relation to all matters occurring prior to the date of this instrument:

 

(a)          Part VIII ‘Powers of APRA’; and

(b)          section 62E ‘APRA may request information from liquidator’;

Directions

 

4.             for the period from the date of this instrument to the chargeback/reversal sunset date:

 

(a)          section 11CA ‘APRA may give directions in certain circumstances’;

(b)          section 11CD ‘Direction not grounds for denial of obligations’;

(c)           section 11CE ‘Supply of information about issue and revocation of directions’; and

(d)          section 11CG ‘Non-compliance with a direction’;

Auditors

 

5.             in relation to any breach or possible breach of the Act, the Regulations, the applicable prudential standards, or any other law of the Commonwealth or a State or a Territory which has occurred or may have occurred prior to the date of this instrument, section 18 ‘Referring matters to professional associations for auditors’;

 

Proposed appointment of external administrator

 

6.             for the period from the date of this instrument to the chargeback/reversal sunset date, section 62B ‘Involving APRA in proposed appointment of external administrators of ADIs and NOHCs’; and

Ancillary provisions

 

7.             in relation to any function or power under the Act which APRA had in relation to the body corporate, its responsible persons, and/or accountable persons prior to the date of this instrument and in relation to any function or power that APRA has retained under this instrument as specified in this Schedule, section 18A ‘Enforceable undertakings’;

 

8.             in relation to any potential transferrable deposit amounts, section 62D ‘Application by APRA for directions’;

 

9.             in relation to any conduct engaged in by the body corporate, its responsible persons and/or accountable persons prior to the chargeback/reversal sunset date, section 65A ‘Injunctions’;

 

10.         in relation to any function or power under the Act which APRA had in relation to the body corporate and/or its responsible and accountable persons prior to the date of this instrument and in relation to any function or power that APRA has retained under this instrument as specified in this Schedule, section 65B ‘Civil penalties’;

 

11.         in relation to any direction made by APRA under section 11CA, section 70AA ‘Protection from liability – directions and secrecy’;

 

12.         in relation to all matters for which APRA has retained its functions and powers under this instrument as specified in this Schedule, section 70B ‘Act has effect despite the Corporations Act’; and

 

13.         in relation to all protected documents and protected information existing at the date of this instrument, section 56 of the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority Act 1998.

 

Interpretation

In this schedule:

accountable person has the meaning given by sections 37BA and 37BB of the Act.

approved transfer means the partial voluntary transfer of business from the body corporate to NAB under the Financial Sector (Transfer and Restructure) Act 1999 approved by APRA on 20 July 2022.

chargeback/reversal means any debit Mastercard transaction made in error or where goods and services are not received by a transferring customer prior to or within 30 days of 21 July 2022, or where the transaction is an unauthorised transaction, that are to be charged as a disputed or unauthorised transaction to the relevant merchant or ATM provider, but which do not compromise any fees or other transactional charges.

chargeback/reversal sunset date means 2 July 2024.

NAB means National Australia Bank Limited ABN 12 004 044 937. prudential matter has the meaning given by section 5(1) of the Act. prudential standard has the meaning given by section 5(1) of the Act.

responsible person has the meaning given by the Banking, Insurance, Life Insurance and Health Insurance (prudential standard) determination No. 2 of 2018 (Prudential Standard CPS 520 Fit and Proper).

transferrable deposit amount means any amount forming part of a debt of the body

corporate to a transferring customer (including, without limitation, in respect of any chargeback/reversal) transferrable to NAB in accordance with the approved transfer.

transferring customer means a customer of the body corporate the subject of the approved transfer.

variable remuneration has the meaning given by section 37EA of the Act.

Overview

The Revocation of Authority to Carry on Banking Business 2022 (Volt Bank Limited) was enacted to address the situation where Volt Bank Limited, an Australian financial institution, requested the revocation of its banking authority. This revocation was made pursuant to subsection 9A(1) of the Banking Act 1959. The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA), satisfied that such revocation would not be contrary to the national interest or the interests of depositors, revoked the banking authority of Volt Bank Limited, effective from 26 August 2022. Despite the revocation, certain functions and powers of APRA continue to apply to specific matters and periods as outlined in the accompanying schedule, ensuring the protection of stakeholders and the orderly resolution of ongoing issues related to the bank. This instrument was made by Therese McCarthy Hockey, a delegate of APRA, under the authority granted by the Banking Act 1959.

Scope and Application

The Revocation of Authority to Carry on Banking Business 2022, Gazette C2023G01018, pertains to the revocation of Volt Bank Limited's section 9 authority to conduct banking business in Australia under the Banking Act 1959. This revocation follows a written request by the bank to the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA). The revocation is effective from the date of the instrument and is subject to specific conditions outlined in the schedule, which allows the continuation of certain authorities for particular purposes and periods, including breaches of prudential standards, investigations, directions, auditor referrals, and civil penalties, among others. The authority remains in effect for various specified matters and periods as detailed in the schedule, ensuring that APRA retains certain powers related to events before the revocation date. The revocation applies only to Volt Bank Limited and its associated responsible and accountable persons, and it does not affect other entities or industries. Geographically, this revocation applies across Australia as it pertains to a Commonwealth-regulated entity, Volt Bank Limited. The Act's jurisdictional reach is nationwide, and the revocation extends to matters occurring within Australia, as specified in the schedule. Any exclusions or exemptions from the revocation are detailed within the schedule, ensuring that specific functions and powers are maintained for certain purposes. The application of this revocation may be further extended or restricted through subordinate instruments, as permitted by the Banking Act 1959. This instrument ensures the orderly transition of Volt Bank Limited's banking business while safeguarding the interests of depositors and the national financial system.

Key Provisions

The document revokes Volt Bank Limited's authority to carry on banking business in Australia under section 9 of the Banking Act 1959. This revocation, however, does not affect certain provisions of the Act for specified periods and matters, as outlined in the schedule (subsection 9A(5A)). These provisions include events for which the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) must be notified, pecuniary penalties, disqualification of accountable persons, and variations or revocations of such disqualifications (sections 37FC(d), 37G, 37J, and 37JA). Additionally, it includes provisions related to variable remuneration, auditors, proposed appointments of external administrators, enforceable undertakings, civil penalties, and protection from liability for directions, among others. These provisions remain in effect to manage specific matters that occurred before the revocation. Volt Bank Limited, as a body corporate, must comply with the conditions outlined in the schedule, ensuring that any breaches or possible breaches of the Act, the Regulations, prudential standards, or other laws that occurred prior to the revocation are handled as per the specified provisions. The bank must also manage variable remuneration for four years post-revocation and comply with APRA’s powers and information requests as delineated. Furthermore, Volt Bank Limited is required to facilitate the approved transfer of business to National Australia Bank Limited and adhere to any directions given by APRA. The bank's responsible and accountable persons must also comply with these provisions, ensuring all prudential and legal obligations are met. Failure to comply with the provisions retained under this revocation may result in civil penalties as specified in section 65B of the Banking Act 1959. Additionally, accountable persons may face disqualification under section 37J. APRA retains its powers to take necessary actions under the retained provisions, including the ability to request information from liquidators and to give directions in specific circumstances. Non-compliance with such directions under section 11CG may also lead to penalties. The specific maximum penalties are not detailed in the document but would be subject to the relevant sections of the Act and applicable laws.

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.