D-Day for Australian Banks as Government to Release Inquiry Report

D-Day for Australian Banks as Government to Release Inquiry Report
A combination of photographs shows people using automated teller machines (ATMs) at Australia's "Big Four" banks - Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (bottom R), Commonwealth Bank of Australia (top R), National Australia Bank Ltd (bottom L) and Westpac Banking Corp (top L). Reuters/Staff
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The Australian government is due to release the final recommendations of an independent inquiry on Feb. 4 that exposed systemic wrongdoing in Australia’s financial sector last year, likely leading to sweeping changes to the country’s banking industry.

The big banks, insurers, pension funds, and regulators who oversee the financial industry are bracing for a brutal summary of their misdeeds and weaknesses, and a list of tough recommendations including possible criminal charges.