CBA is cutting 119 jobs, including about 43 at Bankwest in Western Australia, continuing the workforce reductions that began with a 300-role cut announced earlier this year.

Bankwest was acquired in 2008 and moved to a fully digital model in 2024, with branch and ATM closures; there was also no new hiring under the Bankwest banner in WA earlier this year, according to critics.

Around 43 of the cuts come from Bankwest, with six of the roles specifically linked to automation.

CBA is rolling out a three-year, $90 million Future Workforce Program to map skills, create career pathways, and retrain staff for AI and tech-driven shifts.

The bank reports strong results, including a record half-year cash net profit after tax of about $5.45 billion, and says the job cuts reflect ongoing program completions and evolving skills needs.

Affected employees face ongoing uncertainty as consultations and transition planning proceed, with unions seeking generous redundancies and retraining support.

To support affected workers, CBA is expanding assistance with a four-week career-transition program and an internal job-vacancies hub as part of its AI-readiness efforts launched in February.

Industry context shows rivals like ANZ pursuing efficiency drives; analysts note banks face cost pressures from regulation, fintech competition, and the push for digital transformation and cybersecurity investments.

Previously, CBA paused and then reversed a plan to replace 45 customer-service roles with an AI chatbot, illustrating tensions between automation and service levels.