CBA voice a gloomy view

Ian Rogers
David Craig, chief financial officer at Commonwealth Bank, disclosed a gloomy tone to his and perhaps the bank's view of the Australian economy.

Craig told the Financial Review: "'I'm an optimist, but what is there to be optimistic about? It doesn't matter how much some people try to talk it up, most people don't feel this country is going anywhere at the moment.

"They're not willing to invest in personal things or business."

The newspaper did not publish any more of it's interview with Craig in a wider article on context to the job cuts in banking that have been widely reported over the last week.

The AFR separately reported that Westpac has cut around 30 middle management technology jobs mainly from BT Financial and Westpac Institutional Bank. The Australian reported that the managers involved have not yet been made redundant.

In November, Westpac said it would amalgamate its technology and banking operations, and its legal and property services operations under a new division labelled group services.