Sydney, Australia – Commonwealth Bank (CBA) customers around Australia will soon see a new symbol of sustainability in their bank branches – a Green Star rating.

The Commonwealth Bank is the first Australian financial institution to achieve a 5 Star Green Star assessment from the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) for the ‘standard design’ of its branch fitouts – one that can be replicated across CBA’s network in the future.

According to the GBCA’s rating system, a 5 Star Green Star assessment reflects ‘Australian Excellence’, and the innovative CBA branch standard design is one of the most sustainable fitouts in Australia. 

The design was assessed across nine impact categories and incorporates a number of sustainable elements including low chemical paints, Forestry Standard certified timber, reduced water consumption and energy savings of around 40 percent when compared with existing branches.

GBCA’s Chief Executive Officer, Romilly Madew, said the Commonwealth Bank understands how sustainable workplaces can cut costs, boost productivity and shrink a company’s environmental footprint. “CBA is taking this a step further by working with us on a simple approach that makes it easy to gain Green Star assessment for its new and refurbished branches. This achievement underscores the importance of sustainability as a strategic business decision – as one that opens up new opportunities for CBA to engage with customers, attract and retain staff, and demonstrate a long-term commitment to corporate social responsibility. We are confident that CBA’s leadership will drive a shift in the way banks think about their branches,” said Romilly.

Jennifer Saiz, Head of Group Property, Commonwealth Bank, said that GBCA’s 5 Star Green Star assessment confirms CBA’s efforts to make a positive impact through the way it does business. “Commonwealth Bank is committed to creating healthier workplaces for our people and being a productive member of the communities in which we operate. Our work with the GBCA will help us to improve the efficiency and productivity of our branches while also enhancing the experience for our customers,” said Jennifer.